Again I will say that I'd like people's opinions on if others should be gender bent, and if so who, especially concerning Elayne, Aviendha and Min :).

Mr Miliard: Thank you for reviewing. I have searched for other fics with a female Rand but I haven't found any, which is partially why I decided to do this. The taint will still be on Saidin, but how I will be handling that will be revealed slightly further in ) And I must admit that is a funny mental image.

Rana al'Thor, as she was named by her mother and father, grew into an independent young woman, and she was rather different from most of the girls in her village. For one thing her father had been teaching her to wield a sword since she learned to walk. He'd even brought her her own, ordered specially from the peddlars that came to the village on the odd occasion.
The fact that, rather than playing with the other girls she often ran off with Matrim Cauthon and Perrin Aybara didn't help either, but the two boys were her closest friends and confidants, and so she was unashamed of the fact that, unlike the other girls, who seemed to spend more and more time stitching and helping their mothers as they grew, she helped the boys with their tasks when she and her father came into town, carrying barrels and such before running off and going on adventures with them, often returning covered in mud, and even more often returning spotless with the other two dripping in mud and grumbling.
Of course there was another thing that set her apart from most of the people in the village. Her appearance. Everyone around her had darker hair and darker eyes, and darker skin too.
Her skin was pale, her face dotted with freckles and her skin burned when she was in the sun for too long. Her eyes were a light grey colour and her hair was long and thick, and very, very red.
And at the age of thirteen she knew that this was not normal, so, after their latest trek into the village and back again, sat on the floor in front of the roaring fire, she looked to her father and asked. "Father, why do I look so different from everyone else in the village?" and her father frowned at her before sighing.
"Thirteen... I suppose you're old enough now. Come here Rana" she climbed to her feet and walked over to her fathers chair, standing in front of him.
"What am I old enough for father?"
"The truth." the man sighed heavily. "And despite what I'm to tell you, I love you child, never doubt that... you know that I spent many years travelling, I also fought as a soldier... and I found you and your mother after a fierce battle, you were just a newborn babe and she was dying, there was nothing I could do to save her, but I promised her I would take you to safety, would raise you."
Rana's eyes widened at those words and she shook her head, "But father that means-"
"That by blood you are not mine. But my child in the ways that matter, the ways of the heart you are mine. And you can never doubt that... but I promised your birth mother that I would not keep the truth from you." he sighed. "You are old enough now not to tell anyone certain significant details that I shall tell you, do you understand child?"
Rana hesitated before nodding. "I believe I do father."
Tam sighed, "Then I shall tell you. According to your mother you father was an Aiel named Janduin, I do not know his fate... perhaps one day you shall find him. And your mother's name... she had two, one the name she chose for herself when she left her old life, Shaiel. And the name she was given at birth... a name you won't have heard of I'm sure, but one that many outside of the Two Rivers have. Tigraine Mantear. The Daughter heir of Andor before she left."
"Daughter heir? But that means-"
"Yes." Tam reached out, combing his fingers through his daughters hair, "It does. You are of Royal blood, you have a half brother in Caemlyn. But you must not tell anyone this my child. There are those who wouldn't take the news quite so well."
"I'm not sure I'm taking it that well." she admitted, "Father why would she have left to begin with? If she was Royalty?"
Tam stared at his daughter for a moment before standing and gesturing for her to sit, which she did without complaint. "She did it because an Aes Sedai warned her that there would be dire consequences for the world if she did not... and, before she died she told me that she believed that it was because the world needs you. I cannot say why. But you are special my child, you will be a force for good one day. Never doubt that Rana. Never." he gave her a reassuring smile.
"No one with such a good heart could be a force for evil. You must remember that when the time comes, though I cannot say when that will be. All I can do is raise you as best as I can and prepare you for the world." he chuckled, "Even if that means earning the disdain of the Womens Council for teaching you how to wield that sword of yours."
Rana let out a laugh at that, though it was slightly shaky. "I heard Nynaeve say that it was ridiculous for a young girl to be running around with a sword."
"Ah, that as may be, but as far as I'm concerned I'd rather you had a sword to defend yourself than that you had to use your hands and feet." Tam pinched her cheek lightly before suddenly nodding to himself. "You know, I have something which you may wish to have. Stay here for just a moment and I shall fetch it for you." he strode out of the room quickly, returning with a golden locket in his hands, and he showed it to her carefully, "It was your mothers personal sigil." he told her, "It hardly stands out enough that I'd worry about you being discovered if you want to wear it."
Rana nodded, her eyes wide, "I do father... it's beautiful!" and it was her mothers. The mother who she had never got to meet, never got to know. It was a connection with the other woman. And she leaned forward eagerly, holding her hair out of the way so that he could fasten the chain around her neck, "And I promise I'll be careful not to loose it father." and she launched herself at Tam, hugging him tightly. "Thank you. For choosing to raise me."
Tam gave a soft smile at that, hugging his daughter back gently. "Rana... surely you know by now that raising you was the best decision I ever made." he pulled back and kissed her forehead gently, "Now my child, it's been a long day and it's getting late. You should be heading to bed at this time, and don't you try and bargain your way out of it young lady. You may be a princess but I'm still your father." and Rana laughed at that, stepping back.
"I wouldn't dare father." she gave her best innocent look, "I shall see you in the morning. Goodnight."