To me it is clear what Robert Jordan is doing. Not exactly what his end is, but he is definately working a pattern that he wants us to see, even if he is doing his best to hide it. Its simply this, he started the last scene in the first book, somehow his last scene will connect greatly with many of the happenings in the first book. the most important thing in the first book though is this: Min's veiwing of the first book on page 182. She says "i see lightning around you, some striking at you and some coming out of you." and on pg 181 "when you are all in a group? sparks swirling around you, thousands of them, and a big shadow, darker than midnight. Its so strong, I almost wonder why everybody can't see it. The sparks are trying to fill the shadow, and the shadow is trying to swallow the sparks. YOU ARE ALL TIED TOGETHER in something dangerous. . ." and when nynaeve showed up, the direct reference to Moiraine being a part of the last battle: on page 194, "She's part of it, right along with the rest of you." "the sparks Rand. She met mistress Alys(moiraine) coming in, and there were sparks with just the two of them. yesterday I couldn't see sparks without at least three or four of you together, but today its all sharper and more furious."

all of the main characters in that inn in Berloyn(sp?) must be there for the last battle, its not just Rand, its all of them, and Moiraine along with Nynaeve are grand parts in it. I think the long books between book one and that final scene are building up the "why" they need to be there. each character is learning things that he/she needs to know for those last moments.