The question that has occurred to me is that since Rand KNOWS what balefire is and what it does, if Rand were to be critically injured by Gawyn, WHY would Rand retaliate at that point rather than just hedge his bet and let Gawyn go on living in the hope that Cadsuane or someone will hopefully hunt him down and balefire Gawyn and revive him that way.
Rand knows that he has to die, so I doubt his mind will run to things like balefire to solve the problem of his death. But in any case, I think he will probably kill Gawyn in self-defense, and that Gawyn will return with HIS last bit of strength to kill Rand. I think that's a relatively recent thought on my part - the details change a lot, as I find that mutable ideas are more sound than rigid ones - but I did cover that in the post on Dragonmount.
Beyond that, it's not even necessary that Rand kill Gawyn; he could easily be killed by a Maiden or some such after the duel is finished and it's clear Rand is dead. It may be that no one with knowledge of balefire happens to be hanging around.
Rand and Gawyn will injure each other simultaneously the way Rand did with Ishamael at Falme. But this explanation is weak in that given how sickly&injured Rand is, I don't really believe that Rand is capable of such a feat anymore with someone as skilled with the sword as Gawyn.
I don't believe there is any evidence whatsoever as to what Rand is capable of, with the sword. For all we know, Lews Therin had quite the one-handed sword technique, and now that the integration is complete, Rand's loss of a hand is completely meaningless. It could be that Rand has been working on his technique so hard that he's already overcome the weakness; he did, after all, become a blademaster in the first place rather quickly. His wounds have never stopped him from being capable in a fight; he ignores the pain.
My new 'loony' theory
03/05/2010 11:09:52 AM
- 2325 Views
Hehe, yeah, we can also discuss it here...
03/05/2010 12:04:57 PM
- 1218 Views

Good deal. You're still being prejudiced, though.
03/05/2010 12:20:00 PM
- 1346 Views

Of course, I prefer my theory....
03/05/2010 01:01:07 PM
- 1081 Views
I suppose it's better than Beslan
03/05/2010 01:19:52 PM
- 1260 Views
He, Beslan being Berelain's man in white was a most brilliant theory!
03/05/2010 01:55:07 PM
- 1205 Views

See, this is why I am right and you are wrong!
04/05/2010 03:56:31 AM
- 1028 Views

In my view
04/05/2010 10:07:02 AM
- 962 Views
Still prejudiced, of course...
04/05/2010 10:24:53 AM
- 1080 Views
Just disagreeing
04/05/2010 11:15:44 AM
- 1054 Views
And repeating yourself. But I have evidence.
04/05/2010 12:24:06 PM
- 1038 Views
Well...
04/05/2010 01:10:17 PM
- 949 Views
This is getting silly
04/05/2010 01:27:56 PM
- 928 Views
Yeah, I think as well that we have sufficiently exchanged our views on this matter!
*NM*
04/05/2010 02:18:09 PM
- 495 Views

Re: My new 'loony' theory
03/05/2010 04:27:12 PM
- 1113 Views
cool people change the subject line
04/05/2010 04:14:18 AM
- 1171 Views
Re: cool people change the subject line
04/05/2010 06:43:01 AM
- 941 Views
Re: cool people change the subject line
04/05/2010 07:32:24 AM
- 1024 Views
Re: cool people change the subject line
04/05/2010 08:31:47 AM
- 1154 Views
Re: cool people change the subject line
04/05/2010 09:27:51 AM
- 1097 Views
I dont claim to be but didnt you say cool people change the subject line?
05/05/2010 02:41:49 AM
- 1049 Views

Yes. What of it? *NM*
05/05/2010 03:22:34 AM
- 650 Views
now you're a cool kid again?
*NM*
05/05/2010 03:23:49 AM
- 590 Views

It was originally a comment on those who normally dwell here (and also did at Wotmania of course) *NM*
05/05/2010 03:25:17 AM
- 581 Views
Re: My new 'loony' theory
04/05/2010 04:44:28 AM
- 1104 Views
what comments by Brandon, and what flaws?
04/05/2010 04:49:29 AM
- 1089 Views
Gawyn promised not to raise a hand against Rand
06/05/2010 12:59:47 AM
- 888 Views
Indeed he did.
06/05/2010 07:23:44 AM
- 1273 Views
But...
06/05/2010 08:52:04 AM
- 1087 Views
Just because it makes more sense to you doesn't make it more likely. I have evidence!
06/05/2010 09:57:52 AM
- 916 Views
Well...
06/05/2010 11:12:42 AM
- 1022 Views
*sigh*
06/05/2010 01:41:03 PM
- 1114 Views
I'm still hoping to dissuade you from this crazy idea!
06/05/2010 02:07:54 PM
- 1081 Views

You won't.
06/05/2010 02:11:42 PM
- 1036 Views
Gawyn agreed that he would talk with Elayne about this topic
06/05/2010 02:32:55 PM
- 1147 Views
Nice theory ...
07/05/2010 06:25:29 PM
- 1117 Views
Take two
17/05/2010 07:33:35 PM
- 962 Views
Re: Take two
17/05/2010 11:45:08 PM
- 975 Views
Re: Take two
18/05/2010 12:52:10 AM
- 1035 Views
Re: Take two
18/05/2010 01:35:46 AM
- 1119 Views
Re: Take two
18/05/2010 01:45:24 AM
- 1051 Views