Chapter 52 - There Is Neither Beginning Nor End

Summary

Rand al’Thor awakens alone on the hilltop after killing the Forsaken Aginor and severing Ba’alzamon’s connection to the Dark One, only to discover he has wielded the One Power, terrifying him with the prospect of madness. He reunites with Egwene, Nynaeve, and a weakened Moiraine, confessing his feat and his fear of being gentled by the White Tower, though Moiraine denies the need for such an action. The rest of the group arrives with treasures found within the Eye of the World: the Horn of Valere and the banner of Lews Therin Telamon. Moiraine reveals that the Eye also contained a seal of the Dark One’s prison, now shattered, and declares that their immediate quest is complete, urging Rand to rest and dream of home as the sanctuary begins to fail.

Characters

• Rand / Rand al'Thor — Rand awakens in the ashes of Aginor, realizes he has killed the Dark One and channeled saidin, and fears the consequences of his power. He reunites with his friends, lies about his absence to them, and expresses his refusal to be controlled by Tar Valon or the Pattern before resting upon Moiraine's instruction.
• Egwene — Egwene kneels in the clearing, terrified, until Rand arrives and reassures her. She apologizes to him, cries, and listens to his account of the battle, tightening her embrace when he describes the horror of his mother's illusion.
• Nynaeve (Wisdom) — Nynaeve observes Rand with regretting eyes, warning him that he is too dangerous to be left unchecked. She helps lift Moiraine, delivers the message about the Eye's contents, and looks pale as Rand mentions the names of past false Dragons.
• Moiraine (Aes Sedai, Moiraine Sedai) — Moiraine lies injured but sharp, explaining the nature of Aginor, the sealed prison of the Dark One, and the treasures of the Eye, including the Horn of Valere and the Dragon Banner. She denies Rand's fear of being gentled, asserts his role as ta'veren, and commands him to sleep and dream of home.
• Lan (Warder) — Loial leads the other survivors to the clearing, carrying a large golden chest. Lan breaks a fragment of cuendillar with his knife to demonstrate its hardness, and Moiraine reveals to Rand that only Lan, Nynaeve, and Egwene have been told of his channeling.
• Loial (Ogier) — Loial arrives carrying a heavy gold chest, marveling at the treasures he and the others found. He identifies the inscription on the Horn of Valere in the Old Tongue and expresses his astonishment at the events surrounding Rand.