ChapterTrack

Chapter 53 - The Wheel Turns

Summary

The group departs the Eye of the World, leaving behind the grave of the Green Man, whom Loial sings for, restoring a small circle of life within the Blight. As they ride out, the corruption of the Blight recedes, replaced by sudden spring-like growth, signaling a blow against the Shadow. They reach Fal Dara, where the city celebrates an unexplained victory in Tarwin's Gap. Moiraine presents the Horn of Valere to Lord Agelmar and orders it taken to Illian, dismissing the Lord's hopes for a direct march on the Blight. Rand, estranged from his companions due to his secret channeling and fear of harming them, secretly prepares to flee alone rather than go to Tar Valon or home, leaving Egwene and the others unaware of his departure as the first book concludes with Moiraine affirming the Dragon's rebirth.

Characters

  • Rand — Rand climbs into his saddle with a sense of loss, rides out of the Blight past the receding corruption, and trains with his sword on a balcony in Fal Dara while contemplating his desire to leave home alone. He confronts Egwene, refusing to go to Tar Valon or return to the Two Rivers, and resolves to vanish without telling anyone, including Moiraine, who remains unaware of his plans.
  • Egwene — Egwene mounts her horse Bela and helps carry the weakened Moiraine on a litter. She rides through the Blight as it recedes, later finding Rand on the balcony in Fal Dara, where she pleads with him to stay with the group and come to Tar Valon, though he refuses.
  • Lan (the Warder) — A litter fashioned by Lan is slung between horses to carry Moiraine. Lan watches Rand train with the sword and delivers a flat, cryptic farewell to the boy before leaving him alone on the balcony.
  • Loial (the Ogier, Builder) — Loial refuses to mount immediately, kneeling before the oak that replaced the Green Man to sing a Tree Song that restores life to a small circle of flowers and grass. He later carries the golden chest containing the Horn of Valere into Lord Agelmar's study and complies with Moiraine's orders.
  • Moiraine (Moiraine Sedai, the Aes Sedai) — Moiraine rests on a litter carried by the horses, setting wards with Nynaeve and Egwene. In Fal Dara, she commands Lord Agelmar to take the Horn of Valere to Illian for rallying forces against the Shadow, ignoring his dismay. She whispers that the Prophecies will be fulfilled and the Dragon is Reborn as the chapter ends.
  • Nynaeve (the Wisdom) — Nynaeve helps support Moiraine on the litter and sets wards alongside the Aes Sedai and Egwene. She rides with the group through the Blight as it recedes, observing the sudden spring-like growth that follows their exit.
  • Mat — Mat rides in single file with his bow ready, following Lan out of the Blight. He questions Moiraine about the 'mighty blow' they struck, but receives no answer. He remains in Fal Dara with the group, unaware of Rand's secret plans to flee.
  • Perrin — Perrin brings up the rear with his axe across the pommel of his saddle. Later, Mat asks Moiraine how they struck a blow to the Shadow, and she replies that they must sleep. Moiraine then shows the Horn of Valere to Lord Agelmar in his study, stating that it must be carried to Illian, leaving the Lord looking disappointed that the Horn's place is not in the Borderlands.
  • Green Man — The Green Man lies dead, transformed into a great oak tree. A small circle of flowers and grass around the tree's trunk blooms and remains green, protected by Loial's song, while the rest of the Blight recedes.
  • Ingtar — Ingtar greets the group at Fal Dara with a sour grimness, revealing he was too late to see the victory in Tarwin's Gap. He bows under Moiraine's command and escorts her to Lord Agelmar, looking dismayed when the Horn of Valere is taken from the Borderlands.
  • Agelmar (Lord of Fal Dara) — Agelmar listens to Moiraine describe the destruction of the Trolloc army and the death of the Green Man. He gasps in surprise as Moiraine reveals the Horn of Valere, then looks like a man denied the Light when she commands it be taken to Illian instead of being used to march on the Blight.
  • Red — Rand's bay horse, known as Red to him, carries Rand through the receding Blight and into Fal Dara. It is later led away by a groom while Rand trains.
  • Bela — Egwene's shaggy brown mare carries Egwene out of the Blight and into Fal Dara, where she is part of the team carrying Moiraine on the litter.
  • Aldieb — Moira's white mare carries the litter supporting Moiraine out of the Blight. Her blanketroll, containing the Dragon banner, is kept secret in Moira's chambers.