Chapter 49 - The Dark One Stirs

Summary

In the Blight, the group wakes to find the Green Man's sanctuary ahead, protected from the corruption by a sudden change in the landscape. As they ride toward the Mountains of Dhoom, the Blight itself turns hostile, with twisted trees and monstrous creatures attacking them; Lan fights off the assailants while Moiraine provides magical defense and healing. The pursuit is halted by the arrival of Worms, terrifying beasts that scare the attackers away, allowing the group to gallop desperately toward the mountains. They suddenly emerge into a lush, peaceful grove where they encounter the Green Man, who welcomes them and confirms that the Eye of the World resides within this sanctuary, which is hidden from the Dark One.

Characters

• Rand — Rand wakes to find the camp disappearing and watches as Nynaeve and Egwene have a private, silent exchange that he cannot understand. He rides his bay horse into the Blight, slicing at attacking trees with his heron-mark sword and shouting the name Manetheren to rally himself. Later, he gallops toward the mountains until the landscape suddenly shifts to green, where he sees the Green Man for the first time.
• Nynaeve (Wisdom) — Nynaeve sits awake with red-rimmed eyes and has a whispered, silent conversation with Egwene that ends in a laugh. She shivers despite the heat and later rides toward the mountains, shouting for Lan to keep quiet as she realizes he cannot stop the Worms.
• Egwene — Egwene crouches beside Nynaeve, engaging in a hushed exchange that Nynaeve initially dismisses before laughing. She watches the Wisdom and Moiraine shiver and later rides into the Blight, gaping in astonishment as the landscape transforms into the Green Man's sanctuary.
• Lan — Lan sits with a hard mask over his face and leads the group north after Moiraine clears their campsite. He disappears into the Blight to confront attackers, returning with a blackened sword to fight a massive creature before rejoining the group. He urges the party to ride faster as Worms pursue them, eventually guiding them to safety in the Green Man's grove.
• Mat — Mat demands to know what they are waiting for and rides with a bow and arrow, shooting a creature that leaps at them. He shouts ancient words while firing arrows at attacking shapes and later expresses incredulity about the Worms chasing them before galloping into the sanctuary.
• Perrin — Perrin rides silently with his golden eyes glowing, hewing a path through the forest and foul flesh with his axe. He forces his horse forward through the attack and later stands between the Green Man and the group, checking his horse's girth while avoiding the entity's gaze.
• Moiraine (Aes Sedai, Sedai) — Moiraine stands with her eyes closed to dissipate her magic residue, then leads the group down the hill and through the Blight. She throws fireballs to destroy attackers, heals Lan's wounds, and tells the group to press on despite the danger. Upon reaching the sanctuary, she speaks with the Green Man, who confirms the Eye of the World is there.
• Loial — Loial travels with the group, providing information about the Worms and the high passes. He bows formally to the Green Man, who calls him 'little brother,' and the two exchange greetings. The others dismount as the Green Man addresses them. He notes that the place is where it is needed.
• Green Man (Treebrother, T'ingshen) — A massive figure woven from vines and leaves steps out of the foliage, possessing eyes like hazelnuts and a scar running up his head. He greets Loial and Perrin, noting Perrin's connection to wolves, and speaks to Rand about the Wheel turning. He confirms that the Eye of the World is within his sanctuary and that the Dark One is stirring.
• Aldieb — Aldieb is Moiraine's white mare, ridden by Moiraine as she leads the group out of the hidden camp and through the Blight, eventually carrying her into the Green Man's sanctuary.
• Mandarb (warhorse) — Mandarb is Lan's black stallion, ridden by Lan as he charges into the trees to fight the Blight's creatures. The warhorse rears to strike and stumbles and bleeds during the attack, but is later led away by Lan as the group escapes.
• Bela — Bela is Egwene's shaggy brown mare, ridden by Egwene as she follows the group into the Blight and into the sanctuary.
• Red (bay) — Red is Rand's bay horse, ridden by Rand through the Blight and into the sanctuary. The horse trembles during the attack and is reined in by Rand as the landscape shifts.