TEotW: Chapter 9

Tellings of the Wheel

Summary

Rand POV - Rand has a series of dreams:¹

He is in a barren land, running from Trollocs. He stops at a cliff and sees Thakan'dar and Shayol Ghul. He remembers it and feels pulled to it. A familiar voice says, "Serve me." A figure in a dark red cloak stands over him. He leaps away and falls.
He is in a meadow. He sees Dragonmount and Tar Valon and feels safe. He runs toward the city, feels pursued, and falls.
He is at the Tar Valon bridge. He walks into the city and sees the White Tower. It gives him a feeling of safety and knowledge. Still, he turns aside, but wherever he turns, the White Tower is always in front of him. People beg him to go to the Tower. A voice says, "It is your destiny." He enters the White Tower and is greeted by a Fade.

He wakes with a sore spot on his side from leaning on his sword.² It is twilight and the moon is full. Tam wakes and Rand tells him about leaving. Bran and Marin will take care of Tam. Oren Dautry and Jon Thane have some good stock that will help them get their farm started again. Lan enters and says there is trouble, it is time to leave. Rand recalls what he knows about Warders. Mat is waiting outside the room. Outside the inn, Moiraine faces a crowd including Hari Coplin, his brother Darl Coplin, Bili Congar, Cenn Buie, Paet al'Caar, his son Wil al'Caar and Eward Candwin who was Healed by Moiraine. Bran al'Vere and Haral Luhhan try to stop them. Moiraine tells the story of Manetheren, city by the Manetherendrelle, Waters of the Mountain Home. Two hundred years into the Trolloc Wars, the men of Manetheren, led by King Aemon al Caar al Thorin fought a battle at the Field of Bekkar under the Red Eagle banner. They heard Manetheren was under attack and headed back. They got back in time to face Trollocs and Dreadlords under Ba'alzamon's banner and held at the Tarendrelle. They sent for aid and aid was promised, but none came. They were betrayed.³ The battle ended at what is now Emond's Field. Queen Eldrene ay Ellan ay Carlan felt Aemon die. She fried the entire Trolloc army destroying herself and the city at the same time. Shamed, the crowd disperses and Moiraine, Lan, Rand and Mat head to the stable.

This is the first series of dreams caused by Ishamael.
Foreshadowing his wounds?
In TEotW,Ch36, Loial hints that the call for help went to the Ogier, but they simply could not come in time. The Guide says that those who betrayed Manetheren escaped unpunished. In TGH,Ch5, Siuan notes that Tetsuan was stripped of her stole for betraying Manetheren out of jealousy for Ellisande. It is not clear if some other group truly abandoned Manetheren or if there was simply a misinterpretation of the Ogier's slow response.

Tellings of the Wheel (James Beveridge)
Sing of Manetheren - by Mike S. Miller This is the first of a series of lithographs officially sanctioned by Robert Jordan.