From The Great Hunt, Chapter 49: What Was Meant To Be: (Copyright Robert
Jordan)
"You must choose, Rand," Moiraine said. "The world will be broken whether you break it or not. Tarmon Gai'don will come, and that alone will tear the world apart. Will you still try to hide from what you are, and leave the world to face the Last Battle undefended? Choose."
They were all watching him, all waiting. Death is lighter than a feather, duty heavier than a mountain. He made his decision.
Moiraine stood in the clearing, waiting. Although of course her face remained the very picture of Aes Sedai serenity and disinterest, her stomach was roiling. Long years of effort and sacrifice had led up to this moment; if it went wrong, more years might be required to put things right. I can only hope he has listened to me, and accepted the truth. Light! Let it be so.
Rand turned to face Moiraine; his eyes bore into her accusingly. "You maintain that I am . . . that I am the Dragon Reborn, and yet you offer no proof save a story that, Three Oaths or no, may well be untrue, or not the whole truth. On the basis of that you want me to throw away my life, and likely the lives of thousands of others? Well, I will not. I cannot."
In spite of her best efforts, Moiraine sighed slightly as he finished; serenity was not easily maintained when you were facing the possibility that the Dark One would soon control the world. She regained her composure, and opened her mouth to speak, but Rand- the Dragon, and the Light's last hope, whether or not he wished to admit it- overrode her.
"No, don't give me any more of your Aes Sedai babbling about inevitability and what must be done. I will not hear it! I am leaving, going away, and that is the end of it. I do not wish anyone to follow me." He turned to Perrin, a sad smile on his face. "Not even those who were my friends once, before-". He did not finish, but the words hung in the air unspoken, obvious to Moiraine. Before I found out I could channel.
Rand spun on his heels and stalked out of the clearing; he must be ignoring the wound in his side. Another example of foolish male pride, she thought irritably; on a day like this one even such small things were bothersome.
Suddenly the full brunt of what had just happened- what had just slipped out of her fingers- hit her. She stood, paralyzed with indecision, for nearly a minute. Nothing moved in the clearing around her. Finally she focused again, and just then Lan, who had stood when the boy had been making his speech, crossed over to her. He spoke low, so that none of the others could hear.
"I will saddle Mandarb, go ahead and follow the boy at a safe distance. He will not know that I am there. You can follow with-".
Moiraine cut him off, also in a low voice. "No, my Gaidin. Not this time. He has made his decision, and, for a time at least, it must stand. If we follow him now, there is no telling what trouble he may cause for us. I do not want him channeling the Power to stop us; if the Reds hear of it, the results . . . will not be pleasant. Besides, following him will do nothing to change his mind. Only time can accomplish that."
She could she that Lan did not quite agree, but no matter. Her decision was final, and he had learned that numerous times over the years. "Very well, then. What do we do?"
Now it was her turn to have an uncertain look. "I am not sure. I do not know." As she paused to think, to form some plan of action, snow began to fall around them, the first snow of winter.
"You must choose, Rand," Moiraine said. "The world will be broken whether you break it or not. Tarmon Gai'don will come, and that alone will tear the world apart. Will you still try to hide from what you are, and leave the world to face the Last Battle undefended? Choose."
They were all watching him, all waiting. Death is lighter than a feather, duty heavier than a mountain. He made his decision.
Moiraine stood in the clearing, waiting. Although of course her face remained the very picture of Aes Sedai serenity and disinterest, her stomach was roiling. Long years of effort and sacrifice had led up to this moment; if it went wrong, more years might be required to put things right. I can only hope he has listened to me, and accepted the truth. Light! Let it be so.
Rand turned to face Moiraine; his eyes bore into her accusingly. "You maintain that I am . . . that I am the Dragon Reborn, and yet you offer no proof save a story that, Three Oaths or no, may well be untrue, or not the whole truth. On the basis of that you want me to throw away my life, and likely the lives of thousands of others? Well, I will not. I cannot."
In spite of her best efforts, Moiraine sighed slightly as he finished; serenity was not easily maintained when you were facing the possibility that the Dark One would soon control the world. She regained her composure, and opened her mouth to speak, but Rand- the Dragon, and the Light's last hope, whether or not he wished to admit it- overrode her.
"No, don't give me any more of your Aes Sedai babbling about inevitability and what must be done. I will not hear it! I am leaving, going away, and that is the end of it. I do not wish anyone to follow me." He turned to Perrin, a sad smile on his face. "Not even those who were my friends once, before-". He did not finish, but the words hung in the air unspoken, obvious to Moiraine. Before I found out I could channel.
Rand spun on his heels and stalked out of the clearing; he must be ignoring the wound in his side. Another example of foolish male pride, she thought irritably; on a day like this one even such small things were bothersome.
Suddenly the full brunt of what had just happened- what had just slipped out of her fingers- hit her. She stood, paralyzed with indecision, for nearly a minute. Nothing moved in the clearing around her. Finally she focused again, and just then Lan, who had stood when the boy had been making his speech, crossed over to her. He spoke low, so that none of the others could hear.
"I will saddle Mandarb, go ahead and follow the boy at a safe distance. He will not know that I am there. You can follow with-".
Moiraine cut him off, also in a low voice. "No, my Gaidin. Not this time. He has made his decision, and, for a time at least, it must stand. If we follow him now, there is no telling what trouble he may cause for us. I do not want him channeling the Power to stop us; if the Reds hear of it, the results . . . will not be pleasant. Besides, following him will do nothing to change his mind. Only time can accomplish that."
She could she that Lan did not quite agree, but no matter. Her decision was final, and he had learned that numerous times over the years. "Very well, then. What do we do?"
Now it was her turn to have an uncertain look. "I am not sure. I do not know." As she paused to think, to form some plan of action, snow began to fall around them, the first snow of winter.