Chapter 50 - Meetings at the Eye

Summary

The group arrives at the Eye of the World, a sanctuary guarded by the Green Man, and descends into a cavern containing a pool of pure saidin. Their inspection is interrupted by the arrival of two Forsaken, Aginor and Balthamel, who reveal they have escaped their prison at Shayol Ghul. Aginor effortlessly disables Lan and strikes Nynaeve with dark power, while the Green Man attacks Balthamel, killing him by forcing rapid growth of parasitic flora within his form but dying in the process and transforming into a great oak tree. Moiraine attempts to trap Aginor in a pillar of fire, which he walks through unharmed. Rand pulls Egwene away from the danger and flees with the others as Moiraine screams in despair.

Characters

Rand — Rand leads the group toward the Green Man and follows Moiraine down into the cavern of the Eye of the World. He is terrified by the presence of the pool and the arrival of the Forsaken. When Aginor and Balthamel appear, Rand grabs Egwene to stop her from rushing to Nynaeve's aid, pulls her away from the confrontation, and flees with the group as Moiraine battles Aginor.
Mat — Mat stares in awe at the Eye of the World and tests its surface by dropping a stone into it, causing the liquid to swell and absorb the rock. He recoils in horror at the Forsaken, drawing his Shadar Logoth dagger when Nynaeve is attacked, but is stopped from reaching them by an invisible force and flees with the others.
Perrin — Perrin enters the sanctuary feeling the Green Man's peace but remains wary of the Dark One's influence. He draws his axe in defense of Nynaeve against the Forsaken but is thrown back by Aginor's power. He manages to stand and runs with the group as they flee the cavern.
Egwene — Egwene wears a garland of flowers and feels the soothing peace of the sanctuary. Upon seeing Nynaeve attacked, she attempts to channel her untrained power to help, but Rand physically pulls her away from the confrontation, and she is forced to flee with the group.
Nynaeve — Nynaeve enters the sanctuary and wears a cap of blossoms. She runs toward the Forsaken to attack Aginor with her knife but is seized by Balthamel, who crushes her face and lifts her into the air, causing her to lose consciousness and fall limp onto the gnarled roots of the oak tree that replaced the Green Man.
Moiraine / Moiraine Sedai (the Aes Sedai) — Moiraine guides the group to the Eye of the World and explains its purpose as pure saidin. She confronts the Forsaken, attempting to trap Aginor in a massive pillar of fire using her power. She screams as Aginor walks through the flames unharmed and heads toward Egwene.
Lan (the Warder) — Lan follows Moiraine into the cavern and draws his sword when the Forsaken appear. He hesitates before charging, allowing Aginor to strike him with a dismissive gesture, sending him flying back into the archway unconscious and disarmed.
Loial — Loial enters the cavern with the group and expresses unease at the sight of the Eye of the World. He is silenced by Aginor's glare and flees into the trees with the others when Aginor advances through Moiraine's fire.
Green Man — The Green Man greets the group and tends to the forest around them, plucking flowers to place on the heads of Nynaeve, Egwene, and Moiraine. He speaks of his duty to guard the arch before stepping away as the group enters. He confronts the Forsaken, attacking Balthamel and killing him by forcing rapid, destructive growth within his body, but is burned in the process and transforms into a large oak tree to die.
Aginor (Forsaken) — Aginor, an old man with withered skin and yellowed teeth, appears with Balthamel. He reveals they are Forsaken who have escaped Shayol Ghul. He dismisses Lan with a gesture and smiles at the ta'veren before turning his attention to the Eye of the World. He walks through Moiraine's fire unharmed, stepping toward Egwene as Rand flees.
Balthamel — Balthamel appears wearing a black leather carapace that forms a laughing young man's face. He seizes Nynaeve by the face, inflicting pain and rendering her unconscious. He attempts to fight the Green Man but is overwhelmed and killed when the Green Man forces parasitic flora to grow explosively inside his leather suit, tearing it apart.