Chapter 50 - Meetings at the Eye

Summary

The group enters the Eye of the World, a vast cavern containing a pool of pure saidin, where Moiraine explains its nature to the terrified youths. Their visit is interrupted by the arrival of Aginor and Balthamel, two of the Forsaken who have escaped their bindings at Shayol Ghul. While the Green Man engages Balthamel in combat, sacrificing himself to destroy the Forsaken with rapid plant growth, Nynaeve is injured by Balthamel's touch. Moiraine attempts to block Aginor with a chasm of flame, but he walks through it unhindered. As the group prepares to flee, Aginor focuses on Egwene; Rand grabs her and pulls her away, and they escape the sanctuary as Moiraine screams in the background.

Characters

• Rand — Rand leads the group to the Eye of the World, recoiling in terror from the pool of saidin. He grabs Egwene when she tries to face the Forsaken and pulls her to safety, fleeing the sanctuary as Aginor pursues her.
• Perrin — Perrin observes the Eye with his yellow eyes glowing and his axe drawn. He attempts to charge the Forsaken but is bounced back by an invisible barrier alongside Mat.
• Mat — Mat expresses skepticism about the water in the Eye and kicks a stone into the pool. He attempts to charge the Forsaken with his dagger but is thrown back by an invisible barrier.
• Egwene — Egwene wears a cap of flowers and tries to channel her untrained power against the Forsaken to help Nynaeve. Rand grabs her arm and physically pulls her away as she is targeted by Aginor.
• Nynaeve (the Wisdom) — Nynaeve wears a braid of flowers and charges Balthamel with her knife, only to be seized by the chin and lifted off the ground, leaving her limp and unconscious.
• Moiraine (Aes Sedai) — Moiraine enters the Eye, explains the nature of the pool to the group, and creates a chasm of flame to stop Aginor. She screams as Rand and Egwene flee the sanctuary.
• Lan — Lan stands cautiously as the Forsaken appear, draws his sword, and is thrown backward against the stone arch by Aginor's gesture, lying unconscious.
• Loial — Loial asks about the history of the Eye of the World and is silenced by Aginor's glare. He is seen dashing into the trees as the group flees.
• Green Man — The Green Man confronts the Forsaken, attempting to drive them away and prevent them from harming anything in the sanctuary. He fights Balthamel, taking grievous burns, and ultimately transforms into a massive oak tree, leaving Nynaeve resting on its roots.
• Aginor (the Forsaken) — Aginor, an old man with withered skin and fang-like teeth, speaks to the group, claiming the seals of Shayol Ghul are weakening. He steps forward through Moiraine's chasm of flame, targeting Egwene before Rand intervenes.
• Balthamel (the Forsaken) — Balthamel wears a black leather carapace shaped like a laughing young man's face. He seizes Nynaeve by the chin, lifting her off the ground, and is subsequently destroyed by the Green Man's rapid plant growth.