Chapter Twelve

Facing him was a woman dressed in a streith gown. She was a blonde like Ilyena, yet she was completely different.

"Who are you? You are not Ilyena, I know that." The blonde stared at him, and started to speak.

"What name do you go by? Rand al'Thor or Lews Therin Telamon?" He stared at her. "Rand al'Thor is fine, now, who are you?"

"My name is Cyndane. I was one of the Chosen. I was. Now, I am an ally of yours, if you will take me as your ally."

"You were one of the Forsaken. Why should I make an allegiance with you?" Rand said. "You are an ally of the Dark One, and I believe that you were Mierin Eronaile."

"Lews Therin, I was an ally of the Great Lord of the Dark. But I was betrayed by one of the others, so I have decided to give myself up for you."

"Cyndane, Lanfear, Mierin, whatever you call yourself. I am facing the Last Battle in the next few days, and I am not sure if making an allegiance with one of you."

"Lews, I have changed. There are things you need to know about Tarmon Gai'don, and the rest of the Chosen. I will tell them all to you, if you will just release me from this weaving." Rand released her, and the woman stood up. "Thank you, Lews."

"So what it is that you want to know?" said Cyndane.

"Tell me about the Bore, Mierin."

"I created the Bore in Tel'aran'rhiod, and I believe that it can be sealed either in Tel'aran'rhiod or in the Waking, I have never tried to seal it." She smiled at this. "Out of the Chosen, Demandred, Moghedien, Mesaana, Semirhage, Graendal and Moridin are alive. Demandred still wants to kill you, after all this time. Moridin has been named Nae'blis. I think he is Ishamael reborn, like I was. But I know the tactics that they will use against you during Tarmon Gai'don."

"What tactics will they use in the Last Battle?" Rand asked, he was curious now. He wanted to know what to expect.

"Lews, they will not use any tactics against you in the LAST BATTLE, but they will use tactics in the BATTLE THAT GUARDS. The Wheel of Time turns constantly throughout the seven ages. When I opened the Bore, I was not creating it for the first time like most people believed. I had found a Sealing, as if someone had already opened up my thinness in the pattern. I was more curious than anything else, but I swear on the Sharom that I did not know that it was the prison to the Great Lord. Tarmon Gai'don does not mean "Last Battle" in the Old Tongue, it means, "Battle that Guards". It is a constant circle, Lews. When we seal up the Bore, it will only be for the next six Ages, until someone like me comes and reopens it. It will be like that until someone goes and destroys the Wheel."

"Quit it with the big speeches, Cyndane. I do not know whether or not I should trust you. We placed our trust in you three thousand years ago, and look how we turned out!" Rand gestured around him. "I think it is best if I take you down to the camp, where I can get the advice of my friends." He wove Cyndane in a flow of air again, but as he started to move her down the hill, Cyndane spoke.

"Rand, I need to tell you something. I need to tell you about your mother."