This isnt a new theory, as many people know, however I think it gives new persectives on it and hopefully new ideas toward the killer; although most have been widdled down to two possible killers: Graendal and Lanfear.

TFOH, Chapter 56, Glowing Embers, page 682: **[Asmodean] pulled open a small door, intending to find his way to the pantry. There should be some decent wine. One step, and he stopped, the blood draining from his face. "You? No!" The word still hung in the air when death took him.**

So ends and begins on of the most debated things about the WOT besides how the series will end it seems.

Ok, lets start at the beginning. Asmodean is dead. No question there. Its a duh answer because RJ has said before that it isnt a pun about Moridin (Death in the Old Tounge) taking Asmodean hostage. Hes dead but most people have assumed that for a long time now.

Now, there are 3 key things to a murder: Means (weapon), Motive (reason), and Opportunity (the killer is there to kill his/her target).

Now just by that, it makes a VERY long list; practically anybody in the palace can fit 2 of those. However, we know that there are more criteria to fulfill before a certain killer is made.

So, there are a few more things that need to be met: We have Means, Motive, Opportunity. Now add a person who he must, MUST recognize and be afraid of, the killer has to get rid of the body because Rand still thinks that Asmo has run away even up until TPOD, TPOD, Chapter 29, A Cup of Sleep, page 565; next comes that the killer must know that Asmo is dead, must be reason why RJ and killer kept the murder secret, and it must be OBVIOUS from the moment he died (RJ said that we should know who killed him the moment he died, and I wont go on that he said he left clues as of LOC and ACOS, if he ment TFOH, then TFOH it will be).

So lets summise some possible killers from the possible criteria and give reasons why or why not they could have killed Asmo:

Aran gar: Busy being dead since he was Balthamel and was being reincarnated by the DO at this point.

Demandred: LOC, Prologue, The First Message, pages 15-16, **Lanfear has vanished without a trace, just as Asmodean did.** Proof in itself that Demandred thinks Asmo is gone but not dead.

Graendal: This is the biggest part of the theory: Graendal for 1. Didn't know about Rand being in Caemlyn, hence Asmo being there, and 2. If she is mentioned in previous books, it is EXTREMELY vague. She fails the obvious part of the criteria totally.

She didn't kill him (and if you bring up the quote that she told all the other Forsaken alive and meeting her, shes a Forsaken talking to another Forsaken they are experts at spreading misinformation).

Ishamael/Moridin: Same as Aran gar. He was busy being reincarnated by the DO at the time as far as we know and have no other proof/hint that he was out before this time.

Lanfear: See Below.

Mesaana: Same as Graendal. Doesnt know that Rand attacked Caemlyn spur of the moment and fails the obviousness totally.

Moghedien: Busy being either drugged by Forkroot, or at least captured by Nynaeve in Salidar with the homemade adam from Elayne.

Fain: No way his dagger isnt fast enough to kill Asmo to leave his words hanging in the air. Look at how the dagger kills Tuarks servants in TGH. They turn black and bubbly so thats no where instantaneous enough, also how, I think its Torval, dies in Far Madding. Same thing. No fast enough.

Sammael: He said in pure anger that he believe both Lanfear and Asmodean to be alive. LOC, Chapter 6, Threads Woven of Shadow, 133, "Rumors! Lanfear has been aiding al Thor since the beginning, if you [Graendal] ask me. I would have had his head in the Stone of Tear except that someone sent Myrddraal and Trollocs to save him! That was Lanfear; I am certain. Im done with her. The next time I see her, Ill kill her! And why would he kill Asmodean? I would if I could find him, but he has gone over to al Thor. Hes teaching him!** No way he did it.

Shaidar Haran: Fails obvious worse then Graendal and Mesaana since I highly doubt Asmodean would recognize him and Asmo for sure wouldnt know him.

Slayer: We simply didnt know enough about Slayer and his abilities till WH. He fails obviousness too, plus hes still not fast enough.

Ok that should cover all the possibilites. Only one left is Lanfear.

Of course there is a major downfall to this one: She was forced/pushed/landed on into Finnland through the Rhuidean doorway in Cairhien by Moiraine Sedai. Will explain in a little bit.

Motive: Lanfear though Asmodean could teach Rand enough to face her, which was obviously wrong at the docks in Cairhien. Thats a big grudge to me. Shes the egotistical type big time.

Furthurmore, Lanfear said she would knock him off, although its subtle. TSR, Chapter 9, Decisions, page 129, **Kneel to the Great Lord, and he will set you above all others. He will leave you free to reign as you will, so long as you bend knee to him only once. To acknowledge him. No more than that. He told me this. Asmodean will teach you to wield the Power without it killing you, teach you what you can do with it. Let me help you. We can destroy all the others. The Great Lord will not care. We can destroy all of them, EVEN ASMODEAN, ONCE HE HAS TAUGHT YOU ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW. You and I can rule the world together under the Great Lord, forever.**

(emphasis is mine)

Need anything more? Still not convinced? Just wait.

TFOH, Chapter 56, Glowing Embers, page 681, **He was hardly sorry Lanfear was dead. Rahvin either, but Lanfear especially, for what she had done to him. He would laugh when each of the others died, too, and most for the last.** 10 seconds later, Asmo is dead. Irony? Just a little bit I think.

Anybody else complete the obviousness and Ill change to that person right now. But there isnt anybody else in my mind that comes close.

Ok... Finally. The problem and my solution to it. Its quite simple I think. The Finn granted a wish by Lanfear, something like **I want to go meet a friend of mine in Caemlyn but I want to arrive in an out of the way place so I dont startle my friend.**

Now, a new twist. I think that the Finn have a call back **button** that they use for if someone were to wish themselves out of Finnland for their first or second wish so they can grant the rest of the wishes or more importantly they can get the rest of the persons memories. An example might be, **I want to know how to find such and such treasure, and take me to it.**

Right after that wish is complete, they use the call back button.

So, this is my take on the whole thing.

Lanfear having just been brought into Finnland, wishes to go to Caemlyn to meet her **friend**. But it is NOT!, repeat NOT!, Asmodean she is implying. Its Rand she wants to kill.

Now I dont know any other place in a huge palace that is more out of the way then a small closet thing-a-ma-jig. So the Finn grant Lanfears wish and send her to the closet.

Right then, and I do mean RIGHT THEN because the quote says he took **one step in**, Asmodean stepped in to see Lanfear just coming out of no where. Wouldn't you be a little dumbstruck? Not to mention seeing a woman thinking just a SECOND ago that she was dead.

Lanfear, seeing Asmodean, thinks **Why not kill two birds with one trip?** So she balefires Asmo out of pure contempt and ego rage.

The Finn realizing that Lanfear just killed someone most likely think **OH CRAP!** And they press the call back button.

Poof Lanfear goes back to Finnland. The Finn handle her in a simple fashion: they rummage through ALL her memories from the AoL, to the time in the Bore, till present. Then, they simply kill her (and I wont post about the loss of power, that could have been the Finn or a punishment from the DO for helping Rand out. You decide where you stand on that yourself).

So. Asmodean dead. No body, no killer, no witnesses. Perfect crime.

Secrecy? Duh, she was dead till TPOD, and we didnt even get a perspective from her till WH, and she mentions that the Finn held her, thats it. Why not RJ tell us? Obvious. He likes to see us squirm. Hes said that enough times.

Lanfear did it. Plain, simple, and elegant.