4 Prophecy

 This section lists all the prophecies and visions we have seen in TWOT. After each prophecy, there is some discussion of what it means/may mean.

 

NOTE: Due to the large amount of material needing revision for this version of the FAQ, this section has not been revised to include new information from Knife of Dreams, The Gathering Storm or New Spring. We plan a more comprehensive update sometime in 2011.

--Jennifer Liang

4.1: Egwene's Dreams

From The Great Hunt

[TGH: 12, Woven in the Pattern, 180]

... she saw Rand sleeping on the ground, wrapped in a cloak. A woman had been standing over him, looking down. Her face was in shadow, but her eyes seemed to shine like the moon, and Egwene had known she was evil. Then there was a flash of light, and they were gone. Both of them. And behind it all, almost like another thing altogether, was the feel of danger, as if a trap was just beginning to snap shut on an unsuspecting lamb, a trap with many jaws."

This has been fulfilled. It is where Lanfear takes Rand and Co. into the Portal Stone world in an attempt to bring Rand under her control.

 


 

From The Dragon Reborn

[TDR: 25, Questions, 233-234]

She had dreamed of Seanchan, too, of women in dresses with lightning bolts woven on their breasts, collaring a long line of women who wore Great Serpent rings, forcing them to call lightning against the White Tower. That had started her awake in a cold sweat, but that had to be just a nightmare, too. And the dream about Whitecloaks binding her father's hands.

The first part seems to indicate that the Seanchan will capture a number of AS and/or Accepted and use them to attack the Tower. Though the Seanchan have caught a few AS thus far, the dream seems to imply something on a larger scale, perhaps in the prophesied upcoming battle with the Seanchan and the White Tower (see below). The second part, with the WCs, has been fulfilled: Master Al'Vere was powerless to act against the WCs in the 2R until Perrin came along.

 


[TDR: 25, Questions, 234]

There had been a dream of Rand, reaching for a sword that seemed to be made of crystal, never seeing the fine net dropping over him.

Fulfilled. The sword is Callandor, and the net is the trap Be'lal set.

And one of him kneeling in a chamber where a parched wind blew dust across the floor, and creatures like the one on the Dragon banner, but much smaller, floated on the wind, and settled into his skin.

Fulfilled. This is Rand being marked the Car'a'carn in Rhuidean.

There had been a dream of him walking down into a great hole in a black mountain, a hole filled with a reddish glare as from vast fires below,

Not fulfilled. By the description, the mountain is SG.

and even a dream of him confronting Seanchan.

Possibly fulfilled. He confronted some Seanchan in TFOH after he and Avi MPS'd, and waged a campaign against them in TPOD. He is on his way to negotiate a peace treaty with them now, but there is good indication that that's going to go horribly wrong.

 


[TDR: 25, Questions, 234]

Perrin with a falcon on his shoulder, and Perrin with a hawk. Only the hawk held a leash in her talons--Egwene was somehow convinced both the hawk and falcon were female--and the hawk was trying to fasten it around Perrin's neck.

The hawk and the falcon are Berelain and Faile, respectively. It's interesting that the hawk is the one with the leash; one would think that Faile is the one who has "leashed" Perrin. Berelain's tacit declaration of war on Perrin in WH may be the beginning of her attempt to "leash" him, but she seems to change her mind in COT (or maybe it's a case of more flies with honey...)

... And that dream of Perrin--with a beard!--leading a huge pack of wolves that stretched as far as the eye could see.

At least partially fulfilled. Perrin has a beard, and he led wolves at Dumai's Wells, but that was probably not the last time.

Mat, placing his own left eye on a balance scale.

Not fulfilled. The most likely interpretation is that Mat will sacrifice his eye. This meshes with some of Min's visions, and the "half the light of the world" prophecy.

Mat, hanging by his neck from a tree limb.

Fulfilled. This happened at Rhuidean.

There had been a dream of Mat and Seanchan, too, but she was willing to dismiss that as a nightmare.

Probably not fulfilled. None of Mat's interaction with the Seanchan thus far has been particularly nightmarish, though his courtship of Tuon has been pretty surreal. The nightmare quality of the dream may have to do with Anath, aka Semirhage, who's likely to be pretty pissed about Mat abducting her "willful charge".

...Just like the one about Mat speaking the Old Tongue.

Fulfilled many times over. Mat talks Old Tongue all the time.

 


[TDR: 37, Fires in Cairhien, 352-3]

She had dreamed of Perrin with a wolf, and with a falcon, and a hawk -- and the hawk and falcon fighting

This is the Faile and Berelain thing again. Perrin and the wolf could be the general "Wolfbrother" thing, or maybe Eg actually caught a glimpse of Perrin running with Hopper in TAR.

...of Perrin running from someone deadly,

This is very vague; it could be referring to Slayer.

and Perrin stepping willingly over the edge of a towering cliff while saying, "It must be done. I must learn to fly before I reach the bottom."

This is very vague, and could refer to any number of issues Perrin is facing, from him mastering his wolf-brotherhood, to being a leader, or taking part in the Last Battle. It could be related to the dream Eg had about him and Aram hacking their way towards an unseen cliff.

There had been one dream of an Aiel, and she thought that had to do with Perrin, too, but she was not sure.

Probably refers to Perrin's freeing of Gaul from the cage in TDR.

And a dream of Min, springing a steel trap but somehow walking through it without so much as seeing it.

Fulfilled. This refers to the Tower Coup: her return to the Tower started Elaida getting suspicious of what SS was up to, which led to the coup. Min never realized what was coming. Yet, she got out of the Tower unscathed.

... Mat with dice spinning 'round him...

Refers to Mat's general luck and ta'verenhood.

Mat being followed by a man who was not there ... or maybe more than one, but in some way there was no one there

Fulfilled. Mat was stalked by Gray Men in Tar Valon.

Mat riding desperately toward something unseen in the distance that he had to reach

Fulfilled. Refers to Mat racing to save El/Eg/Ny in Tear.

and Mat with a woman who seemed to be tossing fireworks about. An Illuminator, she assumed, but that made no more sense than anything else.

Maybe fulfilled. In TDR, Mat meets the rogue Illuminator Aludra, whence he gets the fireworks with which he busts into the Stone of Tear. He meets up with her again in Ebou Dar in WH.

Men and women breaking out of a cage, then putting on crowns.

Fulfilled. The Forsaken have broken out of SG and have taken up places of power in the world.

A woman playing with puppets, and another dream where the strings on puppets led to the hands of larger puppets, and their strings led to still greater puppets, on and on until the last strings vanished into unimaginable heights.

This is probably just symbolic of the various degrees of manipulation and plotting going on.

Whitecloaks ravaging the Two Rivers.

Fulfilled and dealt with.

 


[TDR: 48, Following the Craft, 468-469]

... A Whitecloak putting Master Luhhan in the middle of a huge, toothed trap for bait

Fulfilled. The WCs used the Luhhans and Cauthons as bait to catch Perrin.

Why should Perrin have a falcon on his shoulder, and what was important about him choosing between that axe he wore now and a blacksmith's hammer?

The falcon is Faile. As for the hammer and axe, Perrin's axe vs hammer choice seems to be a choice between war and peace, the life of a leader and that of a simple blacksmith. As of COT, he seems to have chosen the hammer, but I doubt getting rid of the axe is going to be that easy.

What did it mean that Mat was dicing with the Dark One, and why did he keep shouting "I am coming!" and why did she think in the dream that he was shouting at her?

Fulfilled. This refers to Mat's "bet" with Gaebril/Rahvin that he'd save El, Eg, and Ny from the assassin.

And Rand. He had been sneaking through utter darkness toward Callandor, while all around him six men and five women walked, some hunting him and some ignoring him, some trying to guide him toward the shining crystal sword and some trying to stop him from reaching it, appearing not to know where he was, or only to see him in flashes. One of the men had eyes of flame, and he wanted Rand dead with a desperation she could nearly taste;

Fulfilled. The men and women are the Forsaken who weren't dead at the time. Fire-eyes is Ishy, and it is interesting that he wants Rand dead in this dream. Maybe this is a combination between the state of the game as it is when Eg has the dream (Rand looking for Callandor) and a prophecy of later in TDR, when Ishamael for once actually decides that Rand needs to be killed?

Rand in that dry, dusty chamber again, with those small creatures settling into his skin.

Again, Rhuidean.

Rand confronting a horde of Seanchan.

Has occurred, in TFOH and TPOD, but there may be more to come.

Rand confronting her, and the women with her, and one of them was a Seanchan.

Hasn't occurred yet. This is likely connected to Eg's dream in COT about the Seanchan woman with a sword - see below.

 


 

From The Shadow Rising

[TSR: 11, What Lies Hidden, 145]

Rand as tall as a mountain, walking through cities, crushing buildings beneath his feet, with screaming people like ants fleeing from him.

This has not been literally fulfilled (Rand hasn't done much city-crushing), but if the dream is symbolic, it is in progress, and refers to the strife Rand leaves in his wake.

Rand in chains, and it was he who was screaming.

Possibly fulfilled; this could refer to his capture and torture by the Tower AS.

Rand building a wall with him on one side and her on the other, her and Elayne and others she could not make out. "It has to be done," he was saying as he piled up stones. "I'll not let you stop me now."

This is in the process of being fulfilled. Rand is deliberately isolating himself from his friends and allies, and becoming increasingly paranoid about not trusting anybody, though he regained some common sense in WH.

Aiel fighting each other, killing each other, even throwing away their weapons and running as if they had gone mad

Fulfilled. This is the aftermath of Rand's revelation of the Aiel's history.

Mat wrestling with a Seanchan woman who tied an invisible leash to him

Mostly fulfilled. Mat literally wrestled with Tuon during his escape attempt from Ebou Dar. The invisible leash probably refers to their impending marriage.

A wolf-- she was sure it was Perrin, though-- fighting a man whose face kept changing.

Fulfilled; refers to Perrin fighting Slayer.

Galad wrapping himself in white as though putting on his own shroud

At least partially fulfilled. The white clearly refers to Galad's joining the WCs. If the shroud bit is prophecy, and not just metaphor, it seems as if Galad will die as a result of his joining up.

and Gawyn with eyes full of pain and hatred.

Certainly fulfilled in one respect or another. Possibly refers to the Tower Coup, or thinking Rand killed Morgase, or just his generally psychotic state.

Her mother weeping.

This could be anything, really. The Two Rivers residents have had lots of reasons to weep of late, and doubtless will have more in the future.

 


 

From The Fires of Heaven

[TFOH: 15, What Can Be Learned in Dreams, 214]

Rand sitting down in a chair, and somehow she knew that the chair's owner would be murderously angry at having her chair taken

This one's been the subject of some debate. Many people think this has already been fulfilled. After Rand takes Caemlyn at the end of TFOH, he briefly sits down on the Lion Throne, noting that it is uncomfortably small [TFOH: 56, Glowing Embers, 680]. The rightful "owner" of the Lion Throne at that time was Morgase (she didn't abdicate to Elayne until LOC), and she was angered enough by Rand's takeover to do some seriously stupid things (like seek aid from the Whitecloaks).

Some, however, do not think this has been fulfilled yet. Another possibility is that it refers to the Crystal Throne of the Seanchan; the owner could either be Tuon or her mother, the current Empress. A less likely idea is that it refers to the Amyrlin Seat.

...Perrin, lounging with Faile on his lap, kissing her while she played with the short-cut beard that he wore in the dream. Behind them two banners waved, a red wolf's head and a crimson eagle. A man in a bright yellow coat stood near to Perrin's shoulder, a sword strapped to his back; in some way she knew that he was a Tinker, though no Tinker would ever touch a sword. And every bit of it except the beard seemed important. The banners, Faile kissing Perrin, even the Tinker. Every time he moved closer to Perrin it was if a chill of doom shot through everything.

Partially fulfilled. Perrin is set up with Faile, has Aram as a bodyguard, has the wolf banner, and the Manetheren banner, but we haven't seen any doom related to Aram, though his unhealthy fascination with Masema may lead to something bad for Perrin.

...Mat throwing dice with blood streaming down his face, the wide brim of his hat pulled down low so she could not see his wound

Not fulfilled. The blood could be another reference to Mat losing an eye.

while Thom Merrilin put his hand into a fire to draw out the small blue stone that now dangled on Moiraine's forehead.

Not fulfilled. This is evidence that Thom will rescue Moiraine from durance vile in Finnland.

Or a dream of a storm, great dark clouds rolling without wind or rain while forked lightning bolts, every one identical, rent the earth.

This is kind of vague. It sounds like a general OP battle, perhaps the Battle of Cairhien, or Rand's psychotic episode with Callandor on the Seanchan campaign in TPOD. It is also similar to Fain's description of Shayol Ghul.

 


 

From Lord of Chaos

[LOC: 15, A Pile of Sand, 258]

Twice, right atop one another, she dreamed of taking [Gawyn] by the shoulders and trying to turn him to face the other way against his will. Once he brushed her hands away roughly; the other time she was somehow stronger than he. The two blended together hazily.

Not fulfilled. Will Eg convince Gawyn to join her on the side of the rebels, or will he cling to his loyalty to Elaida? Related to Min's viewing of Gawyn kneeling to Eg or breaking her neck.

In another, [Gawyn] began swinging a door closed on her, and she knew if that narrowing gap of light vanished, she was dead.

Not fulfilled. Again, this must be related to Min's viewing of Gawyn kneeling to Eg or killing her-- Gawyn has the power to destroy Eg, if he chooses not to join her. Or rescue her, possibly, given events in COT.

 


[LOC: 15, A Pile of Sand, 258]

Perrin came and stood before her, a wolf lying at his feet, a hawk and a falcon perched on his shoulders glaring at each other over his head. Seemingly unaware of them, he kept trying to throw away that axe of his until finally he ran, the axe floating through the air chasing him.

Well, the wolf is obvious, and the birds are Berelain and Faile. He literally threw the axe away from him after torturing the Aielman for information on Faile [COT: 27, What Must Be Done, 599]. He leaves it behind, but it's doubtful Perrin is done with the axe just yet, judging from the "chasing after" part.

We have yet to decide for sure what the axe symbolizes in general. Maybe it's the Lordly life Faile has planned for him, and the fighting inherent therein. On a broader scale, the hammer symbolizes creation, the axe destruction. Perrin doesn't like it, but it is currently his duty to destroy and then rebuild. The axe following him could mean that, since he is ta'veren, he can't run away from his duty.

Again Perrin; he turned away from a Tinker and ran, faster and faster though she called for him to come back.

The Tinker could be Aram, in light of the "doom" vision from TFOH, possibly related to Aram's fascination with the Prophet. Perrin and Aram's relationship doesn't seem to have degenerated so far, so likely this hasn't been fulfilled. It's been suggested that Aram represents the exact opposite of what Perrin wants. Perrin wants to give up fighting for a peaceful life. Aram gave up the Way of the Leaf to become a soldier.

 


[LOC: 15, A Pile of Sand, 258]

Mat spoke words she almost understood - the Old Tongue, she thought - and two ravens alighted on his shoulders, claws sinking through his coat into the flesh beneath

In light of other visions, this probably has to do with the Daughter of the Nine Moons and the Seanchan. Raven tattoos on the shoulders mean "Property of the Seanchan Empress." It's also been suggested that these ravens could represent Mat's raven-engraved ashanderei. It's worth noting Tuon's interest in Mat's spear, and the carvings on it, in WH, and her comments about making him a "cupbearer" - da'covale, in other words - in COT.

He seemed no more aware of them that Perrin had been of the hawk and the falcon, yet the defiance passed across his face, and then grim acceptance.

Probably fulfilled, if it refers to his situation with Tuon. Mat's spent most of the books fiercely resisting the idea that he had to marry the DotNM, but when actually confronted with her, he no longer denied the inevitability of it (quite the opposite, in fact). Or alternately, maybe the ravens refer to his spear, which he got on his trip to A/Eelfinnland, where he also became a battle-master, which he first fought, and has now accepted?

In another, a woman, face shrouded in shadow, beckoned him toward great danger; Egwene did not know what, only that it was monstrous.

Not fulfilled, maybe. The woman could be Semirhage as Anath, though she doesn't seem to be beckoning him toward anything. Tuon is another possibility; Jeff Dougan suggests that the "shrouded in shadow" line could refer to the veil that keeps Tuon's true identity from being spoken.

 


[LOC: 15, A Pile of Sand, 258]

Several concerned Rand, not all bad, but all odd. Elayne, forcing him to his knees with one hand.

Not fulfilled, and seemingly contradicted by events in WH - Elayne bonded him as a Warder, but did not force him to do it, nor did she demand anything from him re: the throne of Andor. Maybe the forcing part comes later?

Elayne and Min and Aviendha, sitting in a silent circle around him, each in turn reaching out to lay a hand on him.

Fulfilled. This is the triple Warder-bonding ceremony in WH.

Him walking toward a burning mountain, something crunching beneath his boots. She stirred and whimpered; the crunching things were the seals on the Dark One's prison, shattering with his every step.

Not fulfilled. The mountain must be Shayol Ghul. The breaking of the Seals--does it have something to do with LTT wanting to break them, and Fel's note? It seems likely that Rand will deliberately break the seals at some point.

 


 

From A Crown of Swords

[ACOS: 10, Unseen Eyes, 195]

...that she [Egwene] would bond him [Gawyn], she knew from interpreting her dreams...

Not fulfilled.

 


[ACOS: 10, Unseen Eyes, 201]

On bare feet, Gawyn walked [toward her] across a floor of broken glass, shards breaking at every slow step....she could see the trail of blood left by his slashed feet.

Partially fulfilled? This seems to indicate that before Gawyn can join Egwene, he must go through a great deal of pain and difficulty.

 


[ACOS: 10, Unseen Eyes, 202]

...a man riding on a black stallion. Gawyn. Then she was standing in the road in front of him, and he reined in. Not because he saw her...but the road that had been straight now forked right where she stood, running over tall hills so no one could see what lay beyond. She knew, though. Down one fork was his violent death, down the other, a long life and a death in bed. On one path, he would marry her, on the other, not. She knew what lay ahead, but not which way led to which. Suddenly he did see her, or seemed to, and smiled, and turned his horse along one of the forks...

This is pretty self-explanatory--Gawyn's possible futures. Pick one of each: quick, violent death or long life, marriage or not. Which combination is the necessary one for Eg to live and win him over to her side, and which results in him destroying her? (See previous dreams and Min visions.) Not fulfilled.

 


[ACOS: 10, Unseen Eyes, 202]

She stood before an immense wall, clawing at it, trying to tear it down with her bare hands. It was not made of brick or stone, but countless thousands of discs, each half white and half black, the ancient symbol of the Aes Sedai, like the seven seals that had once held the DO's prison shut...the wall stood strong however she beat at it. She could not tear it down. Maybe it was the symbol that was important. Maybe it was the AS she was trying to tear down, the White Tower. Maybe....

This could be related to Eg's dream of Rand building a wall between himself and all his friends and loved ones. Note that the wall is made of the emblem of Rand's forces. A more interesting possibility is that it refers to the cuendillar chain she created in COT. While not technically a "wall", the chain certainly serves the same purpose, and like the seals is made of heartstone. It's possible, after all, that Egwene's actions will destroy the White Tower rather than reunite it.

 


[ACOS: 10, Unseen Eyes, 202]

Mat sat on a night-shrouded hilltop, watching a grand Illuminator's display of fireworks, and suddenly his hand shot up, seized one of those bursting lights in the sky. Arrows of fire flashed from his clenched fist, and a sense of dread filled her. Men would die because of this. The world would change.

Not fulfilled. This indicates that Mat will find a way to use gunpowder as a weapon. Recall his use of fireworks to blow a hole in the Stone of Tear in TDR, and his reunion with the Illuminator Aludra in WH, who currently appears to be working out how to make cannon (see section 2.1.8).

 


[ACOS: 10, Unseen Eyes, 202]

Straps at waist and shoulder held her tightly to the block, and the headsman's axe descended, but she knew that somewhere someone was running, and if they ran fast enough, the axe would stop.

On its way to being fulfilled, looks like. Egwene is betrayed and captured at the end of COT, by either Elaida's people or the Black Ajah (see section 2.6.8). Clearly, she won't be able to get herself out of this one without help. This could possibly be the thing where Gawyn will either save her or destroy her. Other possibilties are Nicola (who probably Foresaw Eg's capture), the mysterious Seanchan swordswoman, or even Sheriam (wrt the golden halo vision Min had of her).

 


[ACOS: 10, Unseen Eyes, 202]

Logain, laughing, stepped across something on the ground and mounted a black stone; when she looked down, she thought it was Rand's body he had stepped over, laid out on a funeral bier with his hands crossed at his breast, but when she touched his face, it broke apart like a paper puppet.

Not fulfilled. This is possibly related to Min's vision of Logain's future glory. Another dead Rand (cf Min's vision in TEOTW), but maybe a fake. It has been suggested that the stone is the Black Tower "speaking stone," the rock that Taim and Rand stand on when addressing the Asha'man. This vision may indicate that Rand will somehow fake his death, and Logain will take over his position of power, or get the credit for defeating the DO. Logain is now with Rand's party, which could put him in a good position to take charge if something happens to Rand in Ebou Dar.

 


[ACOS: 10, Unseen Eyes, 203]

A golden hawk stretched out its wing and touched her, and she and the hawk were tied together somehow; all she knew was that the hawk was female.

The golden hawk is the symbol of Mayene. The female hawk has symbolised Berelain in many other Egwene-dreams. This indicates that Berelain and Eg will be connected in some way. Of course, if Eg marries Gawyn and Berelain marries Galad, they'll be in-laws! [John Seehafer] Alternatively, the hawk could refer to a Seanchan noblewoman, possibly Tuon (the golden hawk is the symbol of the Seanchan Blood), or the swordswoman Eg Dreams about in COT. Either way, not fulfilled.

 


[ACOS: 10, Unseen Eyes, 203]

A man lay dying in a narrow bed, and it was important that he not die, yet outside a funeral pyre was being built, and voices raised songs of joy and sadness.

Absolutely no clue on this one.

 


[ACOS: 10, Unseen Eyes, 203]

A dark young man held an object in his hand that shone so brightly she could not see what it was.

Possibly fulfilled. Jahar Narishma - a dark young man - wielded Callandor during the Cleansing battle at the end of WH. The wording is vague enough that we can't say for sure, though.

 


 

From The Path of Daggers

[TPOD: 15, Stronger than Written Law, 308]

Rand, wearing different masks, until suddenly one of those false faces was no longer a mask, but him.

Could refer to LTT and the "third" man introduced in TPOD and WH, especially if the third man is another Dragon. Perhaps more will show up? Alternatively, it could refer to how Rand acts in wildly different ways, plays different roles, with different people. This could be Rand trying to be the ever-hardening Dragon Reborn/dictator on one hand and the man who can maintain calm in the middle of combat, off three Forsaken with political skill, and then return home in time to be a loving husband. Maybe one of his roles will become the "real" him.

Perrin and a Tinker, frenziedly hacking their way through brambles with axe and sword, unaware of the cliff that lay just ahead. And the brambles screamed with human voices they did not hear.

The Tinker is Aram. The frenzied hacking could refer to Perrin's current rush to rescue Faile. The various signs of impending doom could imply that they'll be so focused on saving her that they'll be oblivious to other factors or situations which will cause them and/or somebody else big trouble and/or pain. Possibly, Perrin will, perhaps at the urging of Aram, make a huge sacrifice of life, maybe his group of soldiers, and that it will turn out to be a bad decision, or Masema's forces will do something similar and Perrin will do nothing to stop it, maybe due to interference from Aram on Masema's behalf. Alternately could refer to Perrin cutting off the Aielman's hand, being willing to torture someone for information. Probably related to the vision of Aram and doom, and to the one of Perrin jumping off a cliff and saying he has to learn to fly before hitting bottom.

Mat, weighing two Aes Sedai on a huge set of balance scales, and on his decision depended....She could not say what; something vast; the world, perhaps.

This may refer to Mat's dilemma in WH about rescuing Teslyn and Edesina from the Seanchan. What the "something vast" could be is unclear, but it could be related to the sul'dam he uses in the rescue, and Egeanin's thoughts about how their little secret could destroy the Seanchan empire. Another possibility is that it refers to the results of his rescue, which was the devastating OP battle in Ebou Dar. The imagery of the dream is similar to the one about Mat's eye on a balance scale, which suggests a connection between the two.

Recently, all of her dreams about Mat were pale and full of pain, like shadows cast by nightmares, almost as though Mat himself were not quite real.

Refers to the severe injuries Mat took from the wall collapsing on him in ACOS, and his long convalescence.

 


 

From Crossroads of Twilight

[COT: 20, In the Night, 492-495]

Mat stood on a village green, playing at bowls [...] he was sharp and clear, dressed in a fine green coat and that wide-brimmed black hat [...] Rubbing the ball between his hands, he took a short run and casually rolled it across the smooth grass. All nine pins fell, scattered as if they had been kicked. Mat turned and picked up another ball, and the pins were back upright. No, there was a fresh set of pins. The old still lay where they had fallen. He hurled the ball again, a lazy underhanded bowl. And Egwene wanted to scream. The pins were not turned pieces of wood. They were men. [...] there were more new pins, new men, standing in orderly formation among the men lying sprawled on the ground as if dead. No, they were dead. Unconcerned, Mat bowled [...] Every one of those human pins had represented thousands of men. Of that she was certain. And an Illuminator was part of it [...] Still, it was only a possible future.

Different symbolism, same meaning as before - Mat and Aludra, cannon, etc. The interesting thing is Mat's apparent unconcern, and that this is another "maybe" prophecy.

She was struggling up a narrow, rocky path along the face of a towering cliff. Clouds surrounded her, hiding the ground below and the crest above, yet she knew that both were very far away. [...] Abruptly, the ledge dropped away from under her with the crack of crumbling stone, and she caught frantically at the cliff, fingers scrabbling to find a hold. [...] Suddenly a woman appeared, clambering down the sheer side of the cliff out of the clouds, making her way as deftly as if she were walking down stairs. There was a sword strapped to her back. Her face wavered, never settling clearly, but the sword seemed as solid as the stone. The woman reached Egwene's level and held out one hand. "We can reach the top together," she said in a familiar drawling accent.

As Egwene herself notes, obviously related to her dream about a Seanchan being among the women "with her" in TDR, and also possibly related to her dream about the female golden hawk in ACOS. So far, the only significant Seanchan female character we've seen who is normally armed is Egeanin. However, Tuon does mention in passing in her POV in WH that she is trained in "suitable weapons", which for all we know may include swordsmanship. Perhaps she would carry a sword if she were going about unveiled as the DotNM instead of merely the "High Lady Tuon" [Rich Boyé]. John Hamby adds that Arthur Hawkwing had a sword named Justice [Guide: 12, The Reign of the High King, 109]; it's reasonable to suppose that the sword is part of the Seanchan Imperial regalia.

It's interesting that the dream seems to suggest that it is the sword that's important, rather than the woman, but it's not clear what that signifies. Possibly, the swordswoman is symbolic of the Seanchan empire/army as a whole (which is led by a woman) coming to Egwene's rescue, rather than being a specific character. It is likely that the Seanchan are going to be involved in Tar Valon happenings real soon now:

[Egwene climbs up on top of a spire.] A small white plinth stood centered in that circle, supporting an oil-lamp made of clear glass. The flame on that lamp burned bright and steady, without flickering. It was white too. Suddenly a pair of birds flashed out of the mist, two ravens black as night. Streaking across the spire-top, they struck the lamp and flew on without so much as a pause. The lamp spun and wobbled, dancing around atop the plinth, flinging off droplets of oil. Some of those drops caught fire in midair and vanished. Others fell around the short column, each supporting a tiny, flickering white flame. And the lamp continued to wobble on the edge of falling.

No need to guess on this one - Egwene knows exactly what it means: the Seanchan will attack the White Tower, an attack that will "shake the Aes Sedai to their core and threaten the Tower itself". To further reinforce this, just before she is captured Egwene sees what she first thinks is a Draghkar but then dismisses as a bat flying across the moon [COT: 30, What the Oath Rod Can Do, 677]. Sounds like a Seanchan scout flying a to'raken to me.

4.2: Min's Viewings

From The Eye of the World

[TEOTW: 15, Strangers and Friends, 181]

LAN: Seven ruined Towers/A babe in a cradle holding a sword

These refer to his Malkieri heritage: Lord of the Seven Towers, and sworn as a babe by his parents to the fight against the Shadow.

THOM: A man-- not him-- juggling fire/The White Tower

Either of these could refer to his channeling nephew Owyn, who seems to have been caught up in the "vileness" after the Aiel war. The Tower could also represent future involvement with Aes Sedai.

MAT: A red eagle, an eye on a balance scale, a dagger with a ruby, a horn, a laughing face

The eagle is related to his past life/lives as a Manetheren general. The eye is another reference to him having to sacrifice his eye at some point, in order to achieve total Odin-hood, and to produce some greater good. Compare to the "half the light of the world" prophecy, and Eg's dream of the exact same image. The dagger is the Shadar Logoth dagger which Mat was involved with for so long. The horn is the Horn of Valere, which Mat blew in TGH. As for the laughing face, it doesn't seem to refer to anything specific Mat's done so far, although he is a bit of a trickster, or to any other prophecies.

RAND: A sword that isn't a sword, A golden crown of laurel leaves, a beggar's staff, him pouring water on sand, three woman standing over a funeral bier with him on it, A bloody hand and a white hot iron, and black rocks wet with blood.

The Sword That Ain't is Callandor. The crown is the Crown of Illian, achieved in ACOS. The beggar's staff vision is probably related to Perrin's vision of Rand dressed as a beggar. Pouring water on sand probably refers to Rand making it rain at Rhuidean. The three women over his funeral bier are probably his three chicks - Min, Avi, and Elayne. No idea about the bloody hand and hot iron, although there is a similar vision for Elayne in TGH. (A suggestion that has nothing to do with Elayne relates Rand's self-inflicted hand wound when Liah is lost in Shadar Logoth in LOC (the bloody hand) to the balefire he used on her at the end of COS (the "white-hot iron" is Min's description of balefire, since she doesn't know what it actually is).) The bloody black rocks are probably the rocks of Shayol Ghul; this seems to tie in with "his blood on the rocks of Shayol Ghul" from the Karaethon Cycle.

PERRIN: wolf, broken crown, trees flowering all around him.

The wolf refers to his wolfbrotherhood. The "broken crown" has to do with his marriage to Faile. The Saldaean crown is called the Broken Crown [COT: Prologue, Glimmers of the Pattern, 67], and Faile is second in line for the throne after her father. The meaning of the flowering trees is unclear; it has been suggested that they refer to Loial singing to the trees over Perrin's family's grave, or that Perrin will find the Song.


[TEOTW: 16, The Wisdom, 195]

The number of sparks increased when Nynaeve joined the party.

Obviously, Nynaeve is an important part of the group who will fight the Shadow.


From The Great Hunt

[TGH: 24, New Friends and Old Enemies, 305] [TGH: 43, A Plan, 511]

ELAYNE: Elayne tells Egwene: "She [Min] said I'd have to share my husband with two other women, and I'd never put up with that." Also, the Rose Crown of Andor, and a severed hand (not hers).

As to the first, well, duh. The crown is the Crown of Andor, which Elayne claimed in TPOD. For the severed hand, see the following Elayne viewing.

EGWENE: A white flame

Refers to Eg. becoming Amyrlin Seat.


[TGH: 43, A Plan, 511]

NYNAEVE: A man's ring of heavy gold.

This is Lan's ring. The vision could symbolize Ny's love connection with our favorite Warder, or it could refer to some particular instance, yet to come, in which she'll need the ring for some specific purpose.

ELAYNE: A red-hot iron and an axe.

The severed hand from above, the red-hot iron, and the axe may be related to the bloody hand and white-hot iron Min saw around Rand (see section 2.6.2).


From The Dragon Reborn

[TDR: 6, The Hunt Begins, 62-3]

PERRIN: An Aiel in a cage, a Tinker with a sword, a female falcon and a female hawk on his shoulders, a darkness swirling around him.

The caged Aiel is Gaul, who Perrin freed. The Tinker is Aram. The hawk and the falcon are Berelain and Faile, respectively. The swirling darkness is vague. Possibly, it just means that the Shadow was chasing him, or maybe more specific - there are Darkfriends near to him? Maybe this is the same darkness Min sees around Rand and Perrin, with the fireflies/sparks?


From The Shadow Rising

[TSR: 1, Seeds of Shadow, 16-23]

RANDOM AES SEDAI IN WHITE TOWER: A silver collar, similar to, or actually, a damane's. Also lots of death and suffering/bones etc.

The bones, death, etc. probably refer to the Tower's current strife (the coup, etc.). The collar vision agrees with others which show that at least some AS will be captured by the Seanchan.


[TSR: 1, Seeds of Shadow, 21]

GAWYN: His face a bloody mask; a heron marked sword, his or threatening; his banner with a field of green rather than white

The blood is exactly how he looked after the coup. The meaning of the heron sword is uncertain. I guess Gawyn could be a blademaster. "Threatening" could refer to fighting Hammar and Coulin in the Tower Coup. The banner is that of the Younglings, whom Gawyn commands.


[TSR: 17, Deceptions, 198]

LOGAIN: A halo of gold and blue, signifying glory to come.

This may have to do with being him being un-gentled, but there is probably more to this than that. Suggestions include the "Rand fakes death and Logain takes credit" theory (see Eg's dream), the "Logain uses Callandor" theory (now partially discredited by events in TPOD and WH), and the "Logain takes care of Taim" theory.


[TSR: 47, The Truth of a Viewing, 544]

GAWYN: either breaking Egwene's neck or kneeling to her

The either/or vision about Egwene is similar to several of Eg's dreams which imply that Gawyn will either get over his psychosis and go along with Egwene, or that he'll end up destroying her, maybe killing her.


From The Fires of Heaven

[TFOH: 26, Sallie Daera, 317]

SHERIAM: "Rays of silver and blue flashed about her fiery hair, and a soft golden light; Min could not say what it meant."

*shrug* Could this have something to do with her being Keeper? Could it be related to Logain's gold and blue aura?


[TFOH: 26, Sallie Daera, 317]

CARLINYA: "a raven floating beside her dark hair; more a drawing of the bird than the bird itself. She thought it was a tattoo..."

Carlinya is one of Sheriam's faction with the rebel AS. The raven tattoo indicates that a person is "property" of the Seanchan empress.


[TFOH: 26, Sallie Daera, 320]

EDESINA: "[...] a silvery collar suddenly appeared, snug around the woman's neck, and as suddenly seemed to shatter. Min shivered. She did not like viewings connected to the Seanchan. At least Edesina would escape somehow."

Fulfilled. Edesina was captured and collared by the Seanchan, and ended up in Ebou Dar. Mat freed her (and Teslyn) in WH.


[TFOH: 28, Trapped, 343]

SIUAN SANCHE/GARETH BRYNE: "When Bryne came in, I had a viewing. An aura, and a bull ripping roses from around its neck. All I know is this. If he stays close to you [SS], you live. If he gets too far away, for too long, you are going to die. Both of you."

The bull ripping off the roses indicates Gareth Bryne severing his ties to Andor and Morgase. (The crest of House Bryne is a bull with a wreath of roses, which symbolize the Rose Crown, around its neck.) We have not yet seen a situation where Siuan's or Bryne's life depends on having the other one around.


[TFOH: 50, To Teach, and Learn, 592]

FAOLAIN: '"A nasty woman," Min murmured, squinting after Faolain ... "You'd think, if there was any justice, she would have an unpleasant future ahead of her."'

By implication, Faolain has a good future. This perhaps will come of her swearing fealty to Eg. It also indicates that her disappearance in COT doesn't mean she's dead.


[TFOH: 50, To Teach, and Learn, 598-9]

MARIGAN, NICOLA, and AREINA: (Three women refugees with Ny et al.) "Those three you brought with are trouble, and that is a viewing." ... "I only caught glimpses of aura, and just out of the corner of my eye. Never when I was looking right at them, where I might have made something out."

Marigan was Moggy, which certainly was trouble.

Nicola and Areina have been causing plenty of problems themselves - they tried to blackmail Eg, and succeeded in blackmailing Myrelle. Their escape from the rebels in COT may be tied in with Egwene's betrayal (see section 2.6.8).


[TFOH: 50, To Teach, and Learn, 598-9]

RAND, ELAYNE, MIN, AVIENDHA:
'Elayne leaped off the cliff. "Min, you had a viewing about Rand and me, didn't you?" [...]
"Yes." It was a wary word.
"You saw that we were going to fall in love."
"Not exactly. I saw you'd fall in love with him. I don't know what he feels for you, only that he's tied to you some way."
[...] "And you saw there would be someone else. Someone I'd have to ... share ... him with."
"Two, " Min said hoarsely. "And .... And I'm one."
[...] "Who is the third?"
"I don't know," Min mumbled. "Only that she has a temper. Not Nynaeve."'

Fulfilled, more or less. Elayne, Min, and Aviendha (the third one, with a temper) are all in love with Rand, and he with them.


From Lord of Chaos

[LOC: 41, A Threat, 527]

RAND: Countless thousands of sparkling lights, like stars or fireflies, rushed into a great blackness, trying to fill it up, rushed in and were swallowed. There seemed to be more lights than she had ever seen before, but the darkness swallowed them at a greater rate, too. And there was something else, something new, an aura of yellow and brown and purple that made her stomach clench.

The sparks and darkness seem to be a continuous indication of the status of the fight against the Shadow. They're first mentioned when we meet Min in TEOTW. The nasty bruise-colored aura could indicate Rand's (physical and psychological) injury during his captivity by the Tower AS, or it could indicate that he was growing more and more susceptible to the Taint.


[LOC: 41, A Threat, 532]

RAND: "I saw an aura around you [Rand] in the throne room. Aes Sedai are going to hurt you. Women who can channel, anyway. It was all confused; I'm not sure about the Aes Sedai part. But it might happen more than once."

Injury at the hands of channeling women has happened once - Rand's captivity by the Tower AS. It is possible that he'll be hurt by channeling women again, although not necessarily more AS - after all, they've had their turn. The most likely groups seem to be Sevanna's Wise Ones, the Black Ajah, and the Seanchan. Other possibilities are the Sea Folk, the Sharans, the Salidar AS, and some Forsaken.


[LOC: 41, A Threat, 534]

MELAINE: will bear twin daughters

Melaine is currently pregnant.


[LOC: 46, Beyond the Gate, 578-9]

RAND and PERRIN: "When you two were together, I saw those fireflies and the darkness stronger than ever.... But with two of you in the same room, the fireflies were holding their own instead of being eaten faster than they can swarm, the way they do when you're alone. Twice he's going to have to be there, or you [Rand]...." "If he's not, something bad will happen to you." "Very bad." Rand: "Then I'll just have to keep him around." Min: "I don't know that that will be enough, it will happen if he is not there, but nothing I saw said it won't because he is. It will be very bad, Rand."

The sparks indicate the odds in the fight vs. the Shadow. Clearly, Rand doesn't stand a chance without Perrin. The first time Rand needed Perrin was probably the capture by the Tower AS. The second hasn't happened, so Perrin better hurry up in Altara.


[LOC: 49, The Mirror of Mists, 616]

RAND: (possible viewing) Rand says, '"Trust me, Min. I won't hurt you. I will cut off my arm before I hurt you." She was silent, and he finally looked round to find her peering at him with a strange expression. "That's very nice to hear, sheepherder." Her voice was as odd as her face.'

This may or may not be a real viewing. However, it seems like she saw something related to what he'd just said. Maybe he'll cut off his arm (or lose a hand!), or hurt her somehow.


[LOC: 50, Thorns, 626]

MISC. NOBLES: "Maringil...was going to die by poison. Colavaere... would die by hanging. Meilan...would die by the knife. ...Aracome and Maraconn and Gueyam were all going to die too, bloody deaths, in battle.

Colavaere killed Maringil and Meilan, or had them killed, and then hung herself when her plan to seize the Sun Throne was foiled. Aracome died battling the Seanchan in TPOD. Maraconn and Gueyam haven't been mentioned since that battle, so presumably they're still alive for now [thanks to David Forbes for the correction].


[LOC: 50, Thorns, 628]

BERELAIN: "a man in white who will make her fall head over heels."

Who is it? The only groups of people who regularly wear white are WCs and gai'shain. It seems most likely that this mysterious man is Galad--there's a certain symmetry to the Most Beautiful Woman and the Most Beautiful Man getting together. Not to mention, Berelain is in Ghealdan at the end of TPOD and in WH, and thus in prime geographic condition to meet some handsome Whitecloaks.


From A Crown of Swords

[ACOS: 2, The Butcher's Yard, 88]

WHOLE BUNCH O' FOLKS: "Taim has blood in his past and blood in his future, but you could guess that. He's a dangerous man. They [the Asha'man] seem to be gathering images like AS....The problem is, what I can see is all blurry....Kiruna and that lot have all sorts of things around them, but they stay so close together that it all...jumbles together....It's even muddier with the [Tower AS] prisoners....I keep feeling there is something important, if I could only pick it out. You need to know."

This is pretty vague. There is something important that Rand must know about Taim, or the Asha'man, or the Aes Sedai sworn to Rand, or the Tower AS prisoners.


[ACOS: 33, A Bath, 526]

RAND: I saw you and another man. I couldn't make out either face, but I knew one was you. You touched, and seemed to merge into one another, and....one of you dies, and one doesn't."

Rand takes this to mean that LTT is a real presence in his mind. That seems too easy, and Min seems doubtful about that interpretation. It could also have something to do with the "other one" LTT begins talking about in WH (see section 2.1.7).


[ACOS: 34, Ta'veren, 534]

MERANA, ALANNA, BERA, FAELDRIN, RAFELA: "They will keep their word....I just saw these five in your hand."

Those five will keep their oath of fealty to Rand. Note that Verin and Kiruna are not part of this group.


[ACOS: 35, Into the Woods, 543]

RAND: "He would almost certainly fail without a woman who was dead and gone..."

The most likely person for this to be referring to is Moiraine, who everybody thinks is dead.


[ACOS: 35, Into the Woods, 546]

MOIRAINE: "it was not as if she had really expected Moiraine to turn up alive. Moiraine was the only viewing of hers that had ever failed."

Obviously Min had some viewing of Moiraine which had not been fulfilled by the time Moir took a header through the Red Door. WE know Min is never wrong, and thus, Moiraine will be back!


[ACOS: 35, Into the Woods, 549]

DARLIN, CARALINE: Caraline Damodred and High Lord Darlin will get married.

This has not occurred, but he is courting her.

DARLIN: "To her eyes a crown suddenly appeared on Darlin's head, a simple golden circlet with a slightly curved sword lying on its side above his brows. The king's crown he would wear one day, though of what country, she could not say. Tear had High Lords instead of a king."

Somebody suggested that this may be a stripped-down version of the Illianer Crown of Swords, but it is more likely a crown that we haven't seen before, or of a new country. In WH, Rand sends Darlin to become his steward in Tear; perhaps that will end up turning Tear from an oligarchy to a monarchy, with Darlin as the first king.


[ACOS: 41, A Crown of Swords, 642]

CADSUANE: "It's Cadsuane. She is going to teach you something, you and the Asha'man. All the Asha'man, I mean. It's something you have to learn, but I don't know what it is, except that none of you will like learning it from her. You aren't going to like it at all."

Judging from her conversations with Sorilea in TPOD and with Verin in WH, Cadsuane is going to teach Rand and the Asha'man "laughter and tears" - in other words, that they are human, and not killing machines. In the same vein, she speaks of showing Rand the difference between being hard and being strong, which is much the same thing.


From The Path of Daggers

[TPOD: 29, A Cup of Sleep, 560-562]

The four Tower Aes Sedai prisoners who were compelled by Verin:

BELDEINE: "She was going to bond an Asha'man as a Warder!"
SARENE: "A tempestuous love affair, of all things!"
NESUNE: "One red-and-green aura spoke of honors, and fame. A huge building appeared above her head and vanished. A library she would found."
ELZA: No specific viewing.

SORILEA: "She had never seen anything really useful around that white-haired harridan"

ALL FOUR, PLUS SORILEA: '"Suddenly an aura flashed, blue and yellow tinged with green, encompassing them all. And Min knew its meaning....'They will serve you, each in her fashion, Rand.".... Sorilea would serve him? Suddenly Min wondered exactly what "in her fashion" meant.'

This is all either trivial, self-explanatory, or both.


From Winter's Heart

[WH: 12, A Lily in Winter, 294-295]

ELAYNE: "'She'll get with child from this. Two of them; a boy and a girl; both healthy and strong.'"

AVIENDHA: "Aviendha would have Rand's babies too. Four of them at once! Something was odd about that, though. The babies would be healthy, but still something odd."

That's some seed Rand's got there, apparently… It seems doubtful that Avi's actually going to have quadruplets, not if they're going to be healthy - Randland medical technology isn't up to that challenge. Various interpretations on the "something odd" with the four babies have been offered. Maybe all three of them are having twins, and Min screwed up interpreting the vision because she can't see things about herself. Or the vision means that

Rand

is having four babies, two from Elayne and two from Avi, and Min's vision was distorted by the sister-bond. Or that Min is (or will be) pregnant with twins and Avi isn't, and the Warder-bond will mean that Avi will experience the birthing-pains of the other two, or something.


[WH: 12, A Lily in Winter, 296-297]

BIRGITTE: "Auras danced around her and images flickered, more than Min had ever seen around anyone, thousands it seemed, cascading over one another… she was certain they indicated more adventures than a woman could have in one lifetime. Strangely, some were connected to an ugly man who was older than she, and others to an ugly man who was much younger, yet somehow Min knew they were the same man."

The second part of the vision obviously refers to Gaidal Cain (see section 2.2.5). As for the first part, Birgitte asserts more than once that she is no longer Birgitte Silverbow but just an ordinary gal. This vision seems to contradict that.


[WH: 25, Bonds, 483]

ALIVIA: "Rand, I like Alivia, But she is going to kill you." [Rand replies]: "You said she was going to help me die… Those were your words."

Clearly related to the various prophecies and visions concerning Rand's death and the general ambiguity surrounding that event. Perhaps Alivia will be involved in helping Rand fake his death, rather than actually killing him.


From Crossroads of Twilight

[COT: 24, A Strengthening Storm, 547]

BASHERE: "And there's something... dark... in the images I saw around Lord Davram. If he turns against you, or dies..."

Pretty vague, but it's always been speculated that Perrin 'n Faile will end up ruling Saldaea at some point. Of course, for that to happen both Tenobia and Bashere have to die.

4.3: Miscellaneous Prophecies

From The Eye of the World

[TEOTW: 26, Whitebridge, 327]

The prophecy of the Horn of Valere:

In the last, lorn fight
'gainst the fall of long night,
the mountains stand guard,
and the dead shall be ward,
for the grave is no bar to my call.

Translation: The Heroes of the Horn will fight against the Shadow at the Last Battle.


[TEOTW: 40, The Web Tightens, 514]

Foretelling by Elaida:

This I Foretell...and swear under the Light that I can say no clearer. From this day Andor marches toward pain and division. The Shadow has yet to darken to its blackest, and I cannot see if the Light will come after. Where the world has wept one tear, it will weep thousands....This, too, I Foretell. Pain and division come to the whole world, and this man [Rand] stands at the heart of it.

It's all pretty much occurred as she said.


[TEOTW: Glossary, Dragon Reborn, 662]

...the prophecies say the Dragon Reborn will bring a new Breaking to the world...

Fulfillment in progress. He hasn't broken it much literally, but he is doing so in a figurative sense.


[TEOTW: Glossary, Far Dareis Mai, 663]

...it is prophesied that a child born of a Maiden will unite the clans and return to the Aiel to [sic.] the greatness they knew during the Age of Legends.

Rand was born of a Maiden, has united the clans (besides the Shaido), and the "greatness of the AOL" is coming to pass - the Aiel are very famous in the lands Rand holds.


From The Dragon Reborn

[TDR: 22, The Price of the Ring, 196-212]

Egwene's Accepted Test:

NOTE: This is not straight prophecy. The Acceptatron (tm David Chapman) ter'angreal seems to be a blend of the Rings of Rhuidean, or what the Portal Stone did to Rand and Co. on their trip to Falme in TGH (shows myriad possible futures), and memories taken from the testee's own mind, their own fears and hopes and so forth. In other words, some elements are "real", others are totally made up, and some are a mix of the two. For instance, Nynaeve's test put her back in a Two Rivers where a horrible woman named Malena had become Wisdom and was poisoning people, which Perrin's storyline later shows never actually happened, but a completely random bit of information from another part of her test (that her AS advisor as queen of Malkier was named Sharina) turns out to have a basis in fact - Nynaeve is floored to learn a "novice" named Sharina Melloy is with the Rebel camp [WH: 10, A Plan Succeeds, 237-238].

The Sharina thing could be just a huge coincidence (though Nynaeve doesn't think so), but Egwene's test gets put here in the prophecy section because hers was additionally an anomaly. The dream ring ter'angreal was in the room when Eg did her test, resonating with the Acceptatron, and as a result her made-up scenarios seemed to be a lot closer to prophecy than Nynaeve's were. Certainly it provided her with true information that she could not possibly have known or guessed independently - that a channeler can be forcibly turned to the Shadow, for example.

So, what happened during Egwene's Accepted test? She sees herself married to Rand with a daughter, in the ruins of the Caemlyn Palace with a half-mad Rand begging her to kill him, and as the Amyrlin Seat (more on that one in a second).

Well, the first one obviously never happened and never will; it was strictly a "might-have-been" kind of thing. The Caemlyn Palace scene might be a little closer to some possible future event, but it's not likely to play out exactly that way, since Rand has cleansed the taint from saidin. The third one, however, is worth examining in detail. (Note that each scenario in Eg's test is more prophetic than the last, as the resonance with the dream ring ter-angreal gets worse, so logically the last one is the closest to reality, though still distorted.)

Here are the relevant bits from the third scenario, and which are true, which are false or distorted, and which might not have happened yet:


From The Shadow Rising

[TSR: 1, Seeds of Shadow, 29]

Elaida's first Foretelling:

The very first thing Elaida had ever Foretold, while still an Accepted - and had known enough even then to keep to herself - was that the Royal line of Andor would be the key to defeating the Dark One in the Last Battle. She had attached herself to Morgase as soon as it was clear Morgase would succeed to the throne...

Elaida interpreted this Foretelling as meaning that somebody from Morgase's line would be crucial to defeating the DO. However, since the timing of the Foretelling is not certain, it may refer to the previous Royal line of Andor, Mordrellen's line. Rand, of course, is Mordrellen's grandson, through Tigraine, and Rand is certainly key to defeating the DO. If Elaida's interpretation is correct, the Foretelling could refer to Elayne and/or Gawyn.

 


[TSR: 15, Into the Doorway, 177]

The Aelfinn's answers to Mat's third question (What is the fate which he must go to Rhuidean to meet?):

To marry the Daughter of the Nine moons.
To die and live again, and live once more a part of what was.
To give up half the light of the world to save the world.

Well, he's half-married to the Daughter. He's died and lived again, and the memories he got from the Foxes count as "living once more a part of what was". In light of other prophecies, "give up half the light of the world" probably refers to sacrificing an eyeball.


[TSR: 19, The Wavedancer, 220-221]

Jendai Prophecy of the Coramoor:

He can wield the One Power ... and he holds the Sword That Cannot Be Touched. The Aiel have come over the Dragonwall to his call. ... The Stone of Tear has fallen, and war breaks over the nations of the land. Those who once ruled have returned, and been driven back for the first time. ... The White Tower shall be broken by his name, and Aes Sedai shall kneel to wash his feet and dry them with their hair.

All of this has happened except for the icky foot-washing bit. Perhaps that's just a figurative way of saying "Aes Sedai will serve him"? Note that foot-washing occurs during the Amyrlin-raising ceremony.


[TSR: 23, Beyond the Stone, 270]

Wise One Dream (Moiraine, Melaine, and Seana in conversation on Chaendaer):

We did not see Egwene or Mat Cauthon at all. It was no more than an even chance that the young man who calls himself Rand al'Thor would come. If he did not, it was certain that he would die, and the Aiel too. Yet he has come, and if he survives Rhuidean, some of the Aiel at least will survive. This we know. If you (Moiraine) had not come, he would have died. If Aan'allein had not come, you would have died. If you did not go through the rings...

Translation: If Rand hadn't gone to Rhuidean, and gained the Aiel Instant Army, he would have died, and the Aiel would have died out, too. Since Rand survived Rhuidean, some portion of the Aiel will survive. If Moiraine hadn't gone, then Rand would have been killed by Lanfear at the Cairhien docks. There was no on-screen moment where Lan saved Moiraine, but maybe it happened during one of the Shadowspawn attacks. What would have happened if Moiraine hadn't gone through the rings?


[TSR: 25, The Road to the Spear, 285-286]

Prophecy of Rhuidean:

The stone that never falls will fall to announce his coming. Of the blood, but not raised by the blood, he will come from Rhuidean at dawn, and tie you together with bonds you cannot break. He will take you back and he will destroy you.

Rand is of Aiel blood, but not raised by the Aiel. He came from Rhuidean at dawn. I'm uncertain what the "bonds you cannot break" are, maybe the bonds of history. He "took them back," revealing their history, and he is in the process of destroying them. There has already been a split between the Aiel who follow Rand and those that don't, and the latter are fraying apart. There are also those who succumb to the "bleakness." Finally, there are all the Aiel who are getting killed in battle.


[TSR: 24, Rhuidean, 281-282]

Mat's wishes to the Foxes:

Holes in memory filled/a way to be free of Aes Sedai and the Power/Away and back to Rhuidean

He got all three, although not exactly in the way he expected.


From The Fires of Heaven

[TFOH: Prologue, The First Sparks Fall, 20]

Elaida in conversation:

"Or do any of you believe he [Rand] will go willingly to his prophesied death to save the world?"

Prophecy at least appears to say that Rand will die.


From Lord of Chaos

[LOC: 14, Dreams and Nightmares, 255]

Nicola's Foretelling:

"The lion sword, the dedicated spear, she who sees beyond. Three on the boat, and he who is dead yet lives. The great battle done, but the world not done with battle. The land divided by the return, and the guardians balance out the servants. The future teeters on the edge of a blade."

The sword, spear, and seeress are clearly Elayne, Aviendha, and Min. Are they the "three on the boat"? Probably, and the wording ties in with the King Arthur funereal imagery of one of Min's visions, and the WOs' boat dream. The "he who is dead yet lives" bit refers to Rand, echoing the answer he got from the Snakes ("To live, you must die."). The "great battle" line could refer to the Last Battle, perhaps saying that even after TG, the struggle between the Light and Shadow continues, or that there will be more fighting afterwards, or maybe there'll be a big battle BEFORE TG. The land divided by the return refers to the Seanchan invasion (Randland is rapidly becoming divided into Rand-controlled areas and Seanchan-controlled areas). The guardians and the servants are the Asha'man and the Aes Sedai. The last line is just metaphorical melodramatics - this war is crucial, duh.


[LOC: 19, Matters of Toh, 312]

Wise Ones Dreams:

"Melaine and Bair dreamed of you [Rand] on a boat with three women whose faces they could not see and a scale tilting first one way and then the other. Melaine and Amys dreamed of a man standing by your side with a dagger to your throat, but you did not see him. Bair and Amys dreamed of you cutting the wetlands in two with a sword. All three had this dream, which makes it especially significant. Rain, coming from a bowl. There are snares and pitfalls around the bowl. If the right hands pick it up, they will find a treasure perhaps as great as the bowl. If the wrong hands, the world is doomed. The key to finding the bowl is to find the one who is no longer."

The women in the boat echo the boat imagery from Nicola's foretelling, and are probably El, Min, and Avi. The scale indicates that everything seems up in the air now. Rand might win, the Shadow might, who knows? The unseen man with a dagger clearly means that there is a big threat to Rand right under his nose, which he is not seeing. This could be Taim. Some people have suggested that it should be taken more literally, and that the unseen guy is a Gray Man. Furthermore, it could be Dashiva, who Rand trusted more than Taim and who turned out to be Osan'gar.

The cutting of the wetlands could indicate how Randland is polarizing into pro- and anti-Dragon factions, or it could refer to Rand's semi-successful campaign against the Seanchan in Ebou Dar. He halted their advance into his territory, but he failed to remove them from most of the territory they already controlled. This would tie in with Nicola's Foretelling of "the land divided by the return."

The rain from a bowl, of course, is the Bowl of the Winds. The "treasure" may be the stockpile of OP objects of which the Bowl was part; note that while the good guys got a lot of those things, Sammael's raiding party may have gotten away with a few things as well, such as the Oath Rod he gave to Sevanna. Obviously it would have been a bad thing if either Sammael or Moridin (who sent Moggy to find the stash) had gotten their hands on all of the booty.

Rich Boyé alternately suggests that the "treasure" referred to is actually the Kin; certainly a thousand channelers in "the wrong hands" (in this case, the Seanchan, most likely) would be very bad.

The key to finding the one who is no longer is to find the bowl. The single person most instrumental in finding the bowl was Setalle Anan - she led El and Ny to the Kin, who eventually led them and Mat to the bowl. So, the question is "no longer what?" Evidence suggests the answer is "no longer Aes Sedai" (see section 2.2.4).


[LOC: 26, Connecting Lines, 373]

Rand's three questions to the Aelfinn (the Snakes):

"He [Rand] knew he had a chance to live, if a seemingly impossible one. If you would live, you must die."

Rand thinks about the Aelfinn's answer again in [WH: 25, Bonds, 483]:

"He had been told by those he had to believe. To live, you must die."

The only other specific information we have about Rand's encounter with the Finn is his comment to Mat that the Snakes never mentioned Rhuidean to him [TSR: 24, Rhuidean, 274]. So we're never told explicitly what the questions are, but over the course of the books since TSR they can be logically deduced:

  1. Q: How do I cleanse saidin?
    A: [Something about the Choedan Kal, perhaps, or Shadar Logoth, or both.]

     

  2. Q: How do I survive [or is there a way for me to survive] Tarmon Gai'don?
    A: "To live, you must die."

     

  3. Q: Should I go home to the Two Rivers? [to protect it from Fain]
    A: [Apparently, "No."]

The second answer has a number of possible meanings. Maybe it means "if you would live future lives, you must die (physically) in this one" (cf. LTT's wanting to die for good, never be spun out again.[LOC: 18, A Taste of Solitude, 299]). Or, Rand will die, but will get resurrected. Or, one of Rand and LTT will die and one will not. Or, Rand will seemingly die, but won't really.


From A Crown of Swords

[ACOS: Prologue, Lightnings, 26]

Elaida's Foretelling #2:

The White Tower will be whole again, except for remnants cast out and scorned, whole and stronger than ever. Rand al'Thor will face the Amyrlin Seat and know her anger. The Black Tower will be rent in blood and fire, and sisters will walk its grounds."

One of the AS factions will be triumphant, eventually. Either Elaida or Egwene is going to get pissed at Rand. (That's not surprising, the way he's treated the AS.) It's probably Egwene, since Elaida has a definite air of doom about her. This "know her anger" could tie in with Eg's dream about confronting Rand. The Asha'man will either undergo a split (followers of Taim and followers of Logain/Rand?), or will be destroyed (depending on how one defines "rend"). There are currently Sisters walking the grounds of the Black Tower - the members of Elaida's task force who have been captured and bonded.


[ACOS: 34, Ta'veren, 538]

Jendai Prophecy, pt 2:

Rand: "That is what the Jendai Prophecy says. The Sea Folk will serve the Coramoor."
Harine: "The Jendai prophecy says you will bring us to glory, and all the sea of the world will be ours. As we give to you, you must give to us."

Self-explanatory.


From Winter's Heart

[WH: 14, What a Veil Hides, 327]

In the chapter where we first meet her, Tuon regrets having punished Lidya, one of her damane, for "reading her fortune", and thinks to herself:

Only luck had kept anyone from overhearing Lidya's cryptic words. Everyone knew that damane could foretell the future, and if any of the Blood had heard, they would all have been chattering behind their hands about her fate.

Whatever that fortune was, it seems to have upset Tuon a great deal. So what could Lidya have told her?

Judging from Tuon's subsequent behavior for the rest of WH, it seemed most likely that Lidya's fortune had something to do with Mat. Why else would she show such interest in him? Remember, the first time she meets him [WH: 17, Pink Ribbons, 367], he's covered in mud and throwing a tantrum (or starting to, anyway) - certainly not the most stellar of first impressions - and he's Tylin's common-born boytoy, to boot.

What's in that resumé to make Tuon, the heir to the Seanchan Empire, feel the need to follow Mat around and spy on him? And then declare, when she discovers he's leaving, that she "cannot allow that" [WH: 31, What the Aelfinn Said, 584]? And then smile when Mat announces that he's kidnapping her (after proclaiming her his wife, no less) [ibid., 588-590]?

Of course, she could be smiling because she's considering all the not-so-nice things that will happen to him for kidnapping the Daughter of the Nine Moons. But she seemed to be actually enjoying herself while fighting him a few moments before. And then there's the unusual amount of interest she shows in his ring and ashanderei. Perhaps Tuon's fortune mentioned them in some way; note it's after Tuon examines his ring at their first meeting that she offers to buy him, and later she seems upset that he's not wearing it [COT: 3, A Fan of Colors, 140].

We get a big clue about Lidya's prophecy in that same scene, when Tuon asks Mat if he remembers Hawkwing's face - which, of course, he does. Though I suppose this could be, as Ryan Ward suggests, "just some crazy-ass Seanchan thing. Y'know, 'Do you remember what Hawkwing's face looked like?' could be something like 'Have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight?'", but it's really doubtful it's just a coincidence, even given that Mat is ta'veren. So maybe part of Lidya's prophecy said that Tuon would marry a man who remembers Hawkwing's face.

There's also some indirect evidence that part of Tuon's fortune had to do with Tuon's ability to channel. When Egeanin reveals to Mat (and Tuon, and everyone else in the room) that sul'dam can channel, Tuon's reaction is remarkably stoic; her face is "a dark mask, unreadable" [COT: 29, Something Flickers, 644]. As Brian Cuocci comments, "The very idea should have been so shocking, or at least surprising, that even [one of] the Blood couldn't control her face perfectly. Assuming RJ did this on purpose, Tuon must have already known or suspected that she could channel. The obvious guess is that this is one of the predictions made by her fortune-telling damane... That'd surely be scandalous enough for Tuon to get mad and have her punished."

 


From Crossroads of Twilight

[COT: 17, Secrets, 431]

Nicola's Foretelling #2:

[Tiana (Mistress of Novices), to Egwene]: "Ever since we found out she has the Foretelling, she's been Foretelling two or three times a day, to hear her tell it. [...] battles with the Seanchan or the Asha'man, an Amyrlin imprisoned, the Dragon Reborn doing nine impossible things, visions that might be Tarmon Gai'don or a bilious stomach..."

Well, we have numerous indications that a battle between the Tower and Seanchan is imminent; the battle with Asha'man is interesting, indicating that perhaps the proposed treaty with the Black Tower will blow up in everyone's faces. The "Amyrlin imprisoned" part occurred at the end of COT, when Egwene was betrayed and captured [COT: 30, What the Oath Rod Can Do, 677-678]. The part about the Dragon Reborn and Tarmon Gai'don is too vague to tell us anything useful.

4.4: The Dark Prophecy

[TGH: 7, Blood Calls Blood, 89]

This may not be actual prophecy. See Verin's commentary [TGH: 7, Blood Calls Blood, 90]. Some parts may be prophetic, and others may just be Shadow propaganda. It is a source of information, though, so here it is.

Daughter of the Night, she walks again.
The ancient war, she yet fights.
Her new lover she seeks, who shall serve her and die, yet serve still.
Who shall stand against her coming?
The Shining Walls shall kneel.

The Daughter of the Night is Lanfear, and she was indeed free at the time this was written, and she was still fighting the ancient war (i.e. still working for the DO). If "her new lover" is supposed to be Rand, that line has definitely not been fulfilled. He might die, but it is very doubtful at this point that he will serve her. "Shining Walls" is a reference to Tar Valon, and thus the Aes Sedai. To whom are they supposed to kneel--Lanfear? Rand? Egwene? The Seanchan?

Blood feeds blood.
Blood calls blood.
Blood is, and blood was, and blood shall ever be.

The man who channels stands alone.
He gives his friends for sacrifice.
Two roads before him, one to death beyond dying, one to life eternal.
Which will he choose? Which will he choose?
What hand shelters? What hand slays?

Likely, "the man who channels" is Rand. The bit about giving his friends for sacrifice is interesting; Rand has been trying to isolate himself, and focusing on using people as tools. By doing so, he may be playing into the Shadow's hands. The two roads probably refer to joining with or fighting against the Shadow. Which one leads to eternal life, which to eternal death? The Chosen servants of the Shadow are granted immortality. The last four questions seem to indicate that all is in a state of confusion, which it is.

Luc came to the Mountains of Dhoom.
Isam waited in the high passes.
The hunt is now begun. The Shadow's hounds now course, and kill.
One did live, and one did die, but both are.
The Time of Change has come.

This gives us a bit of history, and is our first clue as to the identity of Slayer. Luc (Tigraine's brother) was sent into the Blight by Gitara Moroso. Isam (Lan's cousin) vanished when his mother's party was run down by Trollocs when Malkier fell. (Isam's mama was one of the people who betrayed Malkier.) Apparently, Isam and Luc were melded together in some fashion, creating the person Perrin knows as Slayer. The stanza also suggests a connection between Slayer and the Wild Hunt (see section 1.6.4).

The Watchers wait on Toman Head.
The seed of the Hammer burns the ancient tree.
Death shall sow, and summer burn, before the Great Lord comes.
Death shall reap, and bodies fail, before the Great Lord comes.
Again the seed slays ancient wrong, before the Great Lord comes.
Now the Great Lord comes.

This stanza deals with the Seanchan invasion. The "ancient tree" refers to Tarabon, whose symbol is a tree (supposedly a branch of the Tree of Life). The "seed of the Hammer" are the Seanchan, who claim to be Luthair Paendrag's descendants (Luthair was also known as the Hammer). Thus, the Seanchan have invaded Tarabon. The bit about "summer burn" most likely refers to the recent spate of DO-induced hot weather in Randland. The "bodies fail" bit doesn't seem to have come to pass yet; it's been suggested that there will be a plague of some sort. I have no idea what "ancient wrong" the Seanchan (the seed) are supposed to slay before the Great Lord comes. Perhaps it will be apparent when it happens.


[TEOTW: 32, Four Kings in Shadow, 434]

Another possible Dark Prophecy, courtesy of Howal Gode: "It is written that when he (the DO) awakes, the new Dreadlords will be there to praise him."

4.5: The Karaethon Cycle

From The Eye of the World

[TEOTW: 13, Choices, 158-159]

Thom in conversation:

One of the Prophecies says that the Stone of Tear will never fall until the People of the Dragon come to the Stone. Another says the Stone will never fall till the Sword that Cannot Be Touched is wielded by the Dragon's hand.

This has been fulfilled. The People of the Dragon are the Aiel, who attacked the Stone of Tear the night Rand broke in and took Callandor.


From The Great Hunt

[TGH: Header Prophecy]

And it shall come to pass that what men made shall be shattered, and the Shadow shall lie across the Pattern of the Age, and the DO shall once more lay his hand upon the world of man. Women shall weep and men quail as the nations of the earth are rent like rotting cloth. Neither shall anything stand nor abide...

Yet one shall be born to face the Shadow...and there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth at his rebirth. In sackcloth and ashes shall he clothe the people, and he shall break the world again by his coming, tearing apart all ties that bind. Like the unfettered dawn shall he blind us, and burn us, yet shall the Dragon Reborn confront the Shadow at the Last Battle, and his blood shall give us the Light. Let tears flow, O ye people of the world. Weep for your salvation.

This is pretty general stuff. Great upheavals will come to the world when the time for the Last Battle nears, yadda yadda. This is all obviously happening right now; Rand is "breaking the world" figuratively, by causing all sorts of social unrest. "His blood shall give us the Light (at the Last Battle)" is reminiscent of Min's viewing of "black rocks, wet with blood," and of the "Twice dawns the day" prophecy, below.


[TGH: 22, Watchers, 275]

Vandene talking to Moiraine:

Five ride forth, and four return. Above the watchers shall he proclaim himself, bannered cross the sky in fire...

This has been fulfilled; it refers to the events at Falme at the end of TGH. The five who rode forth were Ingtar, Hurin, Rand, Mat, and Perrin. Rand proclaimed himself the DR after the battle at Falme, where he and Ish fought in the sky.


[TGH: 26, Discord, 325-6], [TSR: 9, Decisions, 126]

Thom to Rand:

Twice and twice shall he be marked, twice to live, and twice to die,
Once the heron to set his path. Twice the heron, to name him true.
Once the Dragon for remembrance lost. Twice the Dragon for the price he must pay.

The Dragon will be marked in four ways, with two herons and two dragons. He got the first heron in the Portal Stone world. The second heron was received at Falme, when he named himself the Dragon Reborn. The two dragons were received at Rhuidean; the "remembrance lost" refers to the lost history of the Aiel. The significance of the second dragon, ("the price he must pay") has not yet been revealed.


[TGH: 26, Discord, 326]

Thom to Rand:

Twice dawns the day when his blood is shed.
Once for mourning, once for birth.
Red on black, the Dragon's blood stains the rock of Shayol Ghul.
In the Pit of Doom shall his blood free men from the Shadow.

"Twice dawns the day" may indicate that there will be an eclipse when Rand's blood is shed. Compare this to the Greeting from the the Amyrlin ceremony when Siuan Sanche arrives in Fal Dara in [TGH: 2, The Welcome,17]: "Against what do we guard?" "The shadow at noon." The second line may indicate that Rand will die and be resurrected, or maybe just that he will die, and the world will be reborn. The fragment ends with yet another reference to Rand's blood being necessary to defeat the DO.


From The Dragon Reborn

[TDR: Header Prophecy]

And his paths shall be many, and who shall know his name, for he shall be born among us many times, in many guises, as he has been and ever will be, time without end. His coming shall be like the sharp edge of the plow, turning our lives in furrows from out of the places where we lie in our silence. The breaker of bonds; the forger of chains. The maker of futures; the unshaper of destiny.

Again, pretty general stuff. Rand is breaking bonds, etc.


[TDR: 6, The Hunt Begins, 57]

Moiraine in conversation, listing bits of the Karaethon Cycle:

He has yet to break the nations, or shatter the world.... What does it mean that he shall 'slay his people with the sword of peace, and destroy them with the leaf'? What does it mean that he shall bind the nine moons to serve him? There are others. What 'wound of madness and cutting of hope' has he healed? What chains has he broken, and who put into chains?

The breaking of nations is well underway. The bit about slaying his people with the sword of peace, etc, refers to the Aiel--by revealing the peaceful past of the Aiel, he changed them forever, and set them on the road to the destruction from which only a 'remnant of a remnant' will survive. "Nine Moons" is a reference to Tuon, and so this indicates that she or the Seanchan in general will eventually come under Rand's control. I don't know what the "wound of madness" is, although it may refer to the Taint, which Rand cleansed at the end of WH. The breaking of chains could refer to many things, e.g. the chains binding people to the Shadow (Ingtar, Asmo, Tear, Andor). It's also been suggested that this refers to the possibility of Rand freeing the Seanchan damane and other slaves. Rand has put people in figurative chains, as well--Asmodean, the Dragonsworn AS, all the nations he is conquering.


[TDR: 41, Threads in the Pattern, 373]

On the slopes of Dragonmount shall he be born, born of a maiden wedded to no man.

Shaiel, a.k.a. Tigraine, a.k.a. Rand's birth mum, was a Maiden of the Spear, who do not wed. (Technically, maybe she was wedded to Taringail, but I guess running off into the Aiel Waste counted as a divorce.)


From The Shadow Rising

[TSR: 3, Reflection, 71]

His blood on the rocks of Shayol Ghul, washing away the Shadow, sacrifice for man's salvation.

Yet another reference to blood on the rocks.


[TSR: 6, Doorways, 93]

Power of the Shadow made human flesh,
wakened to turmoil, strife and ruin.
The Reborn One, marked and bleeding,
dances the sword in dreams and mist,
chains the Shadowsworn to his will,
from the city, lost and forsaken,
leads the spears to war once more,
breaks the spears and makes them see,
truth long hidden in the ancient dream.

The "Power of the Shadow made human flesh" could refer to any number of things--the Forsaken, Fain, Slayer, or the Bubble of Evil at the start of TSR. "Dances the sword in dreams and mist" could be a reference to the mirror incident in the Stone in TSR. Rand has chained the Shadowsworn, in the person of Asmodean. He leads the Aiel spears to war, and has also revealed the truth of Aiel history, which has resulted in many Aiel breaking their spears and running off bonkers.


[TSR: 21, Into the Heart, 244]

Into the heart he thrusts his sword,
into the heart, to hold their hearts.
Who draws it out shall follow after,
What hand can grasp that fearful blade?

Rand stuck the Sword Which is Not (Callandor) into the floor of the Heart of the Stone, partly as a reminder to the lords of Tear that he was the ruler of their country. The last two lines seem to indicate that somebody other than Rand will remove Callandor from the Stone. Indeed, this happened; Narishma fetched it for Rand in TPOD. Since he also used the Sword That Ain't in the Battle of Shadar Logoth in WH, Narishma may have a larger part to play wrt Callandor and "following after".


From The Fires of Heaven

[TFOH: Header Prophecy]

With his coming are the dread fires born again. The hills burn, and the land turns sere. The tides of men run out, and the hours dwindle. The wall is pierced, and the veil of parting raised. Storms rumble beyond the horizon, and the fires of heaven purge the earth. There is no salvation without destruction, no hope this side of death.

The drying and burning are surely a reference to the drought and hot weather which was going on in Randland until the Bowl of the Winds was used. The piercing of the wall, and the raising of the veil may refer to the DO breaking loose, or alternately that the dead are now walking in Randland. That phrase calls to mind a phrase from the Bible. This is discussed more thoroughly in Section 3.


From Lord of Chaos

[LOC: Trailer Prophecy]

The unstained tower breaks and bends knee to the forgotten sign. The seas rage, and stormclouds gather unseen. Beyond the horizon, hidden fires swell, and serpents nestle in the bosom. What was exalted is cast down; what was cast down is raised up. Order burns to clear his path.

The first sentence is fulfilled: the Tower is broken, and some AS have knelt and sworn fealty to Rand (whose sign is the "forgotten" ancient AS symbol). The second sentence indicates that all is not well. Something is rotten in Randland. People are not what they seem. The serpents in the bosom could be Taim and Halima, among others. The last sentence indicates the uncertain nature of the world. It could be referring to the AS and male channelers specifically, but there is more casting down and raising up than that going on.


From A Crown of Swords

[ACOS: Header Prophecy]

There can be no health in us, nor any good thing grow, for the land is one with the Dragon Reborn, and he one with the land. Soul of fire, heart of stone, in pride he conquers, forcing the proud to yield. He calls upon the mountains to kneel, and the seas to give way, and the very skies to bow. Pray that the heart of stone remembers tears, and the soul of fire, love.

(From a much-disputed translation of The Prophecies of the Dragon by the poet Kyera Termendal, of Shiota, believed to have been published between FY700 and FY800)

This is a clear reference to Rand's increasing self-isolation, hubris, etc., as well as Cadsuane's determination to teach Rand laughter and tears. Also note the 'Dragon is one with the land' stuff matches the Fisher King legend/reference (see section 3.06).


[ACOS: 34, Ta'veren, p533]

Rand's thoughts:

The Prophecies said he would bind together the people of every land--"The north shall he tie to the east, and the west shall be bound to the south."

Rand's interpretation: all the world will follow him. Alternative interpretation: Rand will hold the north and east; the Seanchan will hold the west and south. This seems more likely, at least for the present. It also agrees with Nicola's Foretelling ("the land divided by the return").


[ACOS: Trailer Prophecy]

Master of the lightnings, rider on the storm, wearer of a crown of swords, spinner-out of fate. Who thinks he turns the Wheel of Time, may learn the truth too late.

(From a fragmentary translation of The Prophecies of the Dragon, attributed to Lord Mangore Kiramin, Sword-bard of Aramaelle and Warder to Caraighan Maconar, into what was then called the vulgar tongue (circa 300 AB))

Similar in tone and meaning to the ACOS header prophecy, indicating that Rand's pride may cause some big trouble.


From Winter's Heart

[WH: Header Prophecy]

The seals that hold back night shall weaken
And in the heart of winter shall winter's heart be born
Amid the wailing of lamentations and the gnashing of teeth,
For winter's heart shall ride a black horse,
And the name of it is Death.

(from The Karaethon Cycle: The Prophecies of the Dragon)

First line is self-explanatory; the rest is fairly ominous, since Rand refers to himself as having "winter's heart" more than once. For example: "He was too weak for what had to be done. He needed to drink in winter, till he made winter's heart seem Sunday noon" [WH: 25, Bonds, 483]. (Recall that "Sunday" in Randland is an annual holiday, taking place at the height of summer.)


[WH: 14, What a Veil Hides, 328-329]

Tuon speaking: "'I must find a way to make contact with the Dragon Reborn as soon as possible. He must kneel before the Crystal Throne before Tarmon Gai'don, or all is lost.' The Prophecies of the Dragon said so, clearly."

Moiraine might be surprised to hear that, since as noted above, in [TDR: 6, The Hunt Begins, 57], Moiraine mentions that one of the Prophecies of the Dragon is that the Dragon Reborn "shall bind the nine moons to serve him", which implies the exact opposite of what the Seanchan version evidently says. The question is, which version is correct?

The Seanchan version of the Prophecies was actually mentioned prior to WH; Captain-General Kennar Miraj, the (now-deceased) commander of the Seanchan forces that confronted Rand in TPOD, reflected on them: "The Prophecies of the Dragon had been known in Seanchan even before Luthair Paendrag began the Consolidation. In corrupted form, it was said, much different from the pure version Luthair Paendrag brought. Miraj had seen several volumes of The Karaethon Cycle printed in these lands, and they were corrupted too - not one mentioned him serving the Crystal Throne! - but the Prophecies held men's minds and hearts still" [TPOD: 24, A Time for Iron, 461].

So apparently at least some of the Seanchan suspect that their version is not the correct one. Miraj's opinions about the Randland versions notwithstanding, it seems more likely overall that the Seanchan version is the only one altered from the original, whether accidentally or purposefully. (Purposefully, perhaps, because the Seanchan version obviously mentions the Crystal Throne by name, and as far as we know no one in Randland proper has ever heard of it; so why would it appear in a Randland-based prophecy? [Sarah Coit])

It's also possible, of course, that both versions are correct. Prophecies, as we've seen, rarely turn out to mean exactly what anyone thinks they do. For all we know Rand could kneel before the Throne right before he blows it up, or something. Another interesting idea is that "binding the nine moons to serve him" could refer to the Sad Bracelets and the struggle for control between the man and the woman/women holding him in them that Moggy talks about; perhaps Tuon could make Rand kneel to the Crystal Throne because of the Sad Bracelets, but would end up being controlled by Rand.

 


From Crossroads of Twilight

[COT: Header Prophecy]

And it shall come to pass, in the days when the Dark Hunt rides, when the right hand falters and the left hand strays, that mankind shall come to the Crossroads of Twilight and all that is, all that was, and all that will be shall balance on the point of a sword, while the winds of the Shadow grow.

(From The Prophecies of the Dragon, translation believed done by Jain Charin, known as Jain Farstrider, shortly before his disappearance)

The Dark Hunt refers to Darkhounds, of course, maybe specifically to the large fifty-plus pack currently on the move in COT. The right and left hand could just be symbolic hoohah - everyone on Rand's side kind of floundering around, etc. - but it's been suggested that it could refer specifically to Mat and Perrin, who do seem to be doing some faltering and straying, respectively. (Osan'gar and Aran'gar got their names from left-hand and right-hand daggers, the only other such reference in the series, but it's pretty clear that the "hands" in question belong to the Light, so the 'gars don't really fit.) Crossroads: a turning point, a choice to be made; an in-between place, a place of danger, especially in twilight (in between day and night, light turning to darkness). The rest, self-explanatory.


[COT: 28, A Cluster of Rosebuds, 616]

Noal in conversation:

Fortune rides like the sun on high
with the fox that makes the ravens fly
Luck his soul, the lightning his eye
He snatches the moons from out of the sky.

Something of a landmark, since it's the first time we learn that the Prophecies of the Dragon talk about anyone specifically other than Rand. Obviously, this refers to Mat - fortune, luck, him as the fox, making the Seanchan - the ravens - fly (freeing the Windfinders and the chaos that followed, as well as being a description of his ring), snatching the Daughter of the Nine Moons, etc. The "lightning his eye" line could mean a couple of things - a reference to gunpowder, perhaps, or just his quickness with a knife (good hand-eye coordination, you know). Possibly related in some way to the other prophecies concerning Mat's eye.

(So, does Perrin get a mention?)

4.6: Perrin's Dreams

From The Dragon Reborn

[TDR: 43, Shadowbrothers, 425]

Mat, rattling a dice cup. His opponent stared at Mat with eyes of fire. Mat did not seem to see the man, but Perrin knew him. "Mat!" he shouted. "It's Ba'alzamon. Light, Mat, you're dicing with Ba'alzamon!"

This is likely referring to Mat's "bet" with Rhavin/Gaebril in TDR.


[TDR: 43, Shadowbrothers, 426]

Egwene and Nynaeve and Elayne stood looking at a huge metal cage, with a raised door held on a heavy spring. They stepped in and reached up together to loose the catch. The barred door snapped down behind them. A woman with her hair all in braids laughed at them, and another woman all in white laughed at her.

This refers to El, Eg, and Ny's Tairen adventures in TDR. Braid-woman is Liandrin, White-clad-woman is Lanfear.


From The Shadow Rising

[TSR: 28, To the Tower of Ghenjei, 320-1]

Rand stood amid swirling stormwinds, laughing wildly, even madly, arms upraised, and on the winds rode [dragons].

Not fulfilled, unless this is some sort of reference to Rhuidean. The Seanchan raken and to'raken are both Dragonesque animals.

hidden eyes watched Rand, and there was no telling whether he knew it

This is possibly general--all the people watching Rand, e.g. Forsaken, Wise Ones, AS, etc. or it may be something more specific that we do not know about.

Nynaeve and Elayne stalking cautiously through a demented landscape of twisted, shadowed buildings, hunting some dangerous beast

This refers to El and Ny going to Tanchico to hunt down the BA. Compare this description to the way Tanchico looks to Eg in T'A'R.

Mat, standing where a road forked ahead of him. He flipped a coin, started down one branch, and suddenly was wearing a wide-brimmed hat and walking with a staff bearing a short sword blade.

Fulfilled--Mat flipped a coin at the Portal Stone, to get to Rhuidean, which led to him getting the hat and ashanderei.

Egwene and a woman with long white hair were staring at him in surprise while behind them the White Tower crumbled stone by stone.

The woman is Amys. This bit is probably not prophetic, but a chance meeting in T'A'R (thus the surprised look). The crumbling of the Tower has been fulfilled, at least partly--it is broken, but will it be destroyed even further?


[TSR: 53, The Price of a Departure, 612]

Egwene stood among a crowd of women, fear in her eyes; slowly the women knelt around her. Nynaeve was one of them, and he believed he saw Elayne's red-gold hair.

This has been fulfilled; Eg has become Amyrlin of the Salidar AS.

That window faded and was replaced. Mat stood naked and bound, snarling; an odd spear with a black shaft had been thrust across his back behind his elbows, and a silver medallion, a foxhead, hung on his chest.

Unknown. This may be the incident in Finnland that got him hung, or maybe something yet to come.

Mat vanished, and it was Rand. Perrin thought it was Rand. He wore rags and a rough cloak, and a bandage covered his eyes.

Not fulfilled. Note that this resonates with Min's viewing of a beggar's staff around Rand. The bandaged eyes are reminiscent of the bandaged eyes of the "Fisher" figure in Moridin's sha'rah game.

4.7: Fourth Age Histories

Are these things written in the Fourth Age, being the Age after the books, or are they from the previous Fourth Age (i.e. six Ages ago)? Are they really prophecy? More likely, they are supposed to be histories of Rand's Age, written during the Age which will start with the end of the last book. Thus, they are not prophetic in the technical sense - they are supposedly written after the fact - but they are prophetic to us, because we don't yet know the end of the story.

From The Eye of the World

[TEOTW: Prologue, Dragonmount, xv]

And it came to pass in those days, as it had come before and would come again, that the Dark lay heavy on the land and weighed down the hearts of men, and the green things failed, and hope died. And men cried out to the Creator, saying, O Light of the Heavens, Light of the World, let the Promised One be born of the mountain, according to the prophecies, as he was in ages past and will be in ages to come. Let the Prince of the Morning sing to the land that green things will grow and the valleys give forth lambs. Let the arm of the Lord of the Dawn shelter us from the Dark, and the great sword of justice defend us. Let the Dragon ride again on the winds of time.

(From Charal Drianaan te Calamon, The Cycle of the Dragon. Author unknown, the Fourth Age)

The "Dark laying heavy on the land" and the failing of plants refer to the two bouts of (Shadow-caused) bad weather we've had in the series thus far, which have caused crops to get messed up: the super-long winter in TEOTW, and the recent hot spell. The reference about singing and fertility

could

mean that the Song will be found, but it could just as well be meant figuratively.


From The Dragon Reborn

[TDR: End Prophecy]

And it was written that no hand but his should wield the Sword held in the Stone, but he did draw it out, like fire in his hand, and his glory did burn the world. Thus did it begin. Thus do we sing his Rebirth. Thus do we sing the beginning.

Fulfilled--Rand took out the Sword in the Stone.


From The Shadow Rising

[TSR: End Prophecy]

And when the blood was sprinkled on ground where nothing could grow, the Children of the Dragon did spring up, the People of the Dragon, armed to dance with death. And he did call them forth from the wasted land, and they did shake the world with battle.

(from The Wheel of Time by Sulamein so Bhagad, Chief Historian at the Court of the Sun, the Fourth Age.)

Fulfilled--Rand brought the Aiel out of the Waste to do battle.


From The Fires of Heaven

[TFOH: End Prophecy]

And the Glory of the Light did shine upon him.
And the Peace of the Light did he give men.
Binding nations to him. Making one of many.
Yet the shards of hearts did give wounds.
And what was once did come again
--in fire and in storm
splitting all in twain.
For his peace...
--for his peace...
...was the peace...
...was the peace...
...of the sword.
And the Glory of the Light did shine upon him.

(from Glory of the Dragon, composed by Meane sol Ahell, the Fourth Age)

General prophecy. Not too informative.


From Lord of Chaos

[LOC: Header Prophecy]

The lions sing and the hills take flight.
The moon by day, and the sun by night.
Blind woman, deaf man, jackdaw fool.
Let the Lord of Chaos rule.

(chant from a children's game heard in Great Aravalon, the Fourth Age)

Your guess is as good as mine as to whether this is actually prophecy/historical or not.


From Crossroads of Twilight

[COT: End Prophecy]

We rode on the winds of the rising storm,
We ran to the sounds of the thunder.
We danced among the lightning bolts,
and tore the world asunder.

(Anonymous fragment of a poem believed written near the end of the previous Age, known by some as the Third Age. Sometimes attributed to the Dragon Reborn.)

Technically I suppose this shouldn't be in the "Fourth Age" section since it was written in the Third Age, but this fit best, as it is written from a historical perspective rather than a prophetic one. Seems to be a reference to the Asha'man, or maybe all channelers, and the prophesied Second Breaking of the world. If referring specifically to the Asha'man, could be related to Elaida's Foretelling of the Black Tower rent in fire and blood.