Across the land, the people wept. For the Dragon Reborn was gone." He shut his book and started at the eager young faces staring up at him.
"What became of the others, grandfather?" asked one of them?
"What happens to all the others?" He laughed. "Lots of things. I will tell you next of the time after the Dragon Reborn was gone. When the threat re-awoke for a time, and the heroes of the third age rose again to fight. Or their children. Al'Lan Mandragoran was there, as was Queen Elayne. You see, my dear Elmindreda, things are never quite what they seem. They never have been and they never will be."
"One day, I will go and I will see all these places you talk about, grandfather. New Malkier, New Manetheren, all of them. I will go and lay flowers at the tomb of the Dragon."
"Do not go so quickly my dear granddaughter. I once knew of someone like you. He went wandering the world when he was young and foolish."
"What happened to him?"
"He gained and lost some of the greatest friends he ever had. But remember this. There are those that say that the Dragon Reborn did not die in what was the Blight on the Battle that Guards. Some say he walks this earth today…"
"Grandfather must be telling the truth," one whispered to Elmindreda, "he was never very good at lying when he was younger, I heard."
"Maybe I got better at it." he said. "Now run along children, my friend and I have to rest."
The young children all got up and dusted their clothes down, bowing or curtseying politely to the old man who sat in a chair underneath a large tree.
"So, my old friend, you got better at lying, did you?" he said, opening one eye.
"Yes, I did. After all, if we told them the truth, they would not believe it. Neither would I, if I hadn't have been there."
"It is only you and me left, Loial. After a century, it is just you and me. Why do you think the Creator wants to keep us here?"
"Maybe he wants your tale, our tale, to be more then something read to Ogier children underneath the trees. Maybe. Who knows how the Wheel weaves."
"Will you tell them about the battles we fought against the Shadow, after the Last Battle, Loial?"
"Maybe Rand. Maybe it should wait. If they ask for it, then we shall. Now come, old friend, let us rest." and with that, the old man and the old Ogier slipped off into the trees, as they always did.
There was a wind blowing in the mountain range known as Kinslayer's dagger. It was not the beginning or the ending of the wind. There are neither beginnings or endings to the Wheel of Time.
But it was an ending…