The Lord of Chaos comment. That always bothered me. I might be wrong, but creating Chaos causes a breakdown in order. When there is less order, there is more chance. When there is more chance, then Ta'Veren have more power. More chances for luck, more luck. The Dark One made it easier for the Light to win.


WOULD YOU UNLEASH BALEFIRE IN MY SERVICE?

LET THE LORD OF CHAOS RULE.

First I have some questions about Balefire...

1. Why does every Last Battle Theory involve Balefire?

2. Why does the Dark One fear Balefire?

3. Why does Rand not fear Balefire?

4. Does the Dark One really fear Balefire?

5. How does this relate to Chaos?

6. How does this create Order?

Balefire is the ultimate destructive power. People see it as being needed in the last battle. Unfortunately they forget that it is creation, and not destruction that imprisioned the Dark One. In my opinion, Balefire will not be involved in the sealing.

The way I see it is like this. Balefire unravels the pattern, creating Chaos. Both the Dark One and Rand need Chaos to win. The Dark One needs Chaos in order to weaken the pattern and to create a situation in which the Dark One can break free. Rand needs Chaos because it creates more situations in which his Ta'veren twisting of chance (luck) can come into play.

Now, what does this have to do with the seals? And why has the Dark One made a move to reclaim the seals?

The Seals determine the time of the Last Battle. When the seals break, that is when Tarmon Gaiden begins. It does not matter how prepared either side is, thats when it happens.

Right now, Rand has control. At the time of his choosing, when conditions are most favorable to him, he can break the seals and initiate the last battle.

Notice that there are four situations in which Ishamael/Morridin and Rand interact.

1. The Eye of the World - The Dragon Reborn. Ishamael attempts to turn Rand to the Dark.

2. A Crown of Swords. Rand is losing to Sammael in Shadar Lagoth. Moridin shows up, saves Rands life, and gives him the inspiration he needs to kill Sammael. This tells us two things. Firstly, Morridin and the Dark One need Rand alive. Or are better off for the moment with Rand alive. And secondly, Sammael was not that important.

3. The Cleansing. Moridin orders the Forsaken to stop the cleansing at all costs. They fail, mostly due to Rands luck, the Forsaken's lack of cooperation, and Moridins not sending the Gholem. This tells us that the Taint was very important to the Dark One, but that should have been Obvious.

4. The seals. This enters into the realm of speculation, but its not a stretch to say that Moridin ordered the darkfriends to capture the seals. This tells us that Moridin wants to control the timing of the last battle. It could be because he wants to delay it and allow the Dark to continue to build up, or it could be because he is begining to see Rand as a threat and wants to stop Rand from breaking the seals. This is the more likely, in my opinion, considering how the Cleansing went off.

We have our two most important characters interacting a total of four times. Something important is going down.

LET THE LORD OF CHAOS RULE

This quote has puzzled many people at Theoryland, myself included. I have gone back and forth debating whether the Lord of Chaos is Rand, or Moridin, or someone else entirely.

I have a different answer. I believe that the Lord of Chaos is merely the person who uses the Chaos best. We have Rand's Ta'veren going against Moridin's Dark One powered manipulation. Basicly, both sides create chaos, and try to come out on top, with the winner being the Lord of Chaos. He seems like a fool (like in the festival) but in reality he ends up winning.

Now, don't get me wrong. There is such thing as too much Chaos. This is why both sides stopped using Balefire in the War of Power. If you screw up the pattern too much, then ANYTHING can happen. Meaning that it could unravel and cause the Dark One to win, or the Dark One could be placed into a worse prison or worse. Not to mention the fact that the people using the Balefire would undoubtably end up confused and suffering.

Now, from Chaos to Order.

A common theme in the books, in fact in literature in general, but prominantly in The Wheel of Time, is Chaos leading to Order. A clear example would be the first three books. In all three books, our heroes start out, for the most part, together, healthy, happy, etc. They start in the Two Rivers, or Sheinar, or a campsite in the mountains. Then Chaos happens. Trollocs attack. The band splits up. They run around the world, creating Chaos, having adventures, being chased, etc. But then it happens. Everyone meets up. Everyone for different reasons, shows up at one place of importance. They all show up at the Eye. Or everyone is at Falme. Or everyone shows up at Tear. Because of this, they win. Rand uses the Eye to hurt Ishamael. Mat blows the Horn. Perrin.. uh... is Perrin and Rand takes Callandor. Order from Chaos. Good triumphs over evil. Later examples of this are the Cleansing, and Dumais Wells. But these are only shallow imitations. Though super cool in their own right.

If Rand is the Lord of Chaos, then it stands to reason that Rand would be the only one capable of making the Dark One win. The Dark One needs Rand to switch sides at the right time and the right time only. That is how Ishamael and Rand are both correct about the Dragon having never served the Dark One.

Rand is the Destroyer, he always destroys. It is his mantra, and everything he touches leads to destruction. Even in a metaphoric way, like the destruction of innocence. Or the destruction of the taint and Shadar Lagoth.

Mat is the Preserver. He fights to save that which is good. He fights under the old codes, the old ways, and he wins. Mat, tries to save everyone he comes into contact with. There is no example of someone good needing help and Mat not giving it to them. Aside from the dagger.

Perrin is the Builder. He is building a civilized nation, that will survive the Last Battle. He is building a kingdom, with a wise ruler. He is a king.

Mat and Perrin can not outlive the Last Battle. Not for long. Both will play a huge role, like Perrin bringing the white cloaks (an act of forgiveness) or Perrin and the Seanchan. He may build a new world nation after the battle and be a king, but he still lives a normal life. Mat maybe dying in battle preserving the old age. His death would symbolize the death of an age, or perhaps, it would be him losing an eye in battle, like that guy in dynasty warriors. Half the Light.

Rand will be christlike, or like Paul in dune. Or Frodo in LoTR. Rand will be Tempted. The Dark One will offer him everything he wants. For Rand that means Elayne, Avendha, and Min. The Dark One will offer Rand the power to save them. To live forever with them.

LTT will realize that to love and lose is better then to sell your soul. And Rand will destroy them and continue to fight the Dark One. And he will win, but be destroyed, and become legend. Maybe he will become a begger, and live happy, but he will not reveal himself, and become human again.

Fain is Golem. But he will have an opportunity to strike at the Dark One. He hates the Dark One more then he hates Rand. The only reason he does not hunt the Dark One is because he feels that he (Fain) would not be able to do any significant harm. That will change. Fain will have to choose between hurting Rand, and hurting the Dark One. And he will choose the Dark One. He symbolizes Free Will, as he is not bound by the pattern.

Elyane will die in childbirth. That is the strange thing about the birth that Min saw and could not interpert. They will be Heroes of the Horn.

Avendha dies with the part of Rand that is a destroyer. I hope she kills Shaidar Haran.

Min might live a normal life, with Rand.

The final battle will be Rand v Ishamael. It has to happen.

Nynaeve + Lan = Malkier

Mat + Tuon = Seanchan

Moiraine + Thom = Political behind the scenes people.

SS + Gareth = Queen and General

Lanfear + Ishamael = Ironic

Perrin + Failie = Manatheren + Borderlands

I hope faile dies. And Nynaeve. And Egwene. Please, if none of the others, Egwene.

Here is what is going to happen. And I will use no specifics. Everyone will randomly show up at the location of the last battle. Everyone will bring an army. From Mat, to Egwene, to Elayne (maybe), to Galad. Everyone is bringing their finest. They win. The end. It will be undeniably sweet.