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
- 2332 Views
Hehe, yeah, we can also discuss it here...
03/05/2010 12:04:57 PM
- 1224 Views

Good deal. You're still being prejudiced, though.
03/05/2010 12:20:00 PM
- 1353 Views

Of course, I prefer my theory....
03/05/2010 01:01:07 PM
- 1089 Views
I suppose it's better than Beslan
03/05/2010 01:19:52 PM
- 1266 Views
He, Beslan being Berelain's man in white was a most brilliant theory!
03/05/2010 01:55:07 PM
- 1212 Views

See, this is why I am right and you are wrong!
04/05/2010 03:56:31 AM
- 1034 Views

In my view
04/05/2010 10:07:02 AM
- 970 Views
Still prejudiced, of course...
04/05/2010 10:24:53 AM
- 1085 Views
Just disagreeing
04/05/2010 11:15:44 AM
- 1059 Views
And repeating yourself. But I have evidence.
04/05/2010 12:24:06 PM
- 1053 Views
Well...
04/05/2010 01:10:17 PM
- 955 Views
This is getting silly
04/05/2010 01:27:56 PM
- 934 Views
Yeah, I think as well that we have sufficiently exchanged our views on this matter!
*NM*
04/05/2010 02:18:09 PM
- 498 Views

Re: My new 'loony' theory
03/05/2010 04:27:12 PM
- 1120 Views
cool people change the subject line
04/05/2010 04:14:18 AM
- 1179 Views
Re: cool people change the subject line
04/05/2010 06:43:01 AM
- 947 Views
Re: cool people change the subject line
04/05/2010 07:32:24 AM
- 1033 Views
Re: cool people change the subject line
04/05/2010 08:31:47 AM
- 1159 Views
Re: cool people change the subject line
04/05/2010 09:27:51 AM
- 1102 Views
I dont claim to be but didnt you say cool people change the subject line?
05/05/2010 02:41:49 AM
- 1054 Views

Yes. What of it? *NM*
05/05/2010 03:22:34 AM
- 653 Views
now you're a cool kid again?
*NM*
05/05/2010 03:23:49 AM
- 594 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
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Re: My new 'loony' theory
04/05/2010 04:44:28 AM
- 1109 Views
what comments by Brandon, and what flaws?
04/05/2010 04:49:29 AM
- 1095 Views
Gawyn promised not to raise a hand against Rand
06/05/2010 12:59:47 AM
- 894 Views
Indeed he did.
06/05/2010 07:23:44 AM
- 1280 Views
But...
06/05/2010 08:52:04 AM
- 1093 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
- 922 Views
Well...
06/05/2010 11:12:42 AM
- 1028 Views
*sigh*
06/05/2010 01:41:03 PM
- 1121 Views
I'm still hoping to dissuade you from this crazy idea!
06/05/2010 02:07:54 PM
- 1087 Views

You won't.
06/05/2010 02:11:42 PM
- 1044 Views
Gawyn agreed that he would talk with Elayne about this topic
06/05/2010 02:32:55 PM
- 1153 Views
Nice theory ...
07/05/2010 06:25:29 PM
- 1124 Views
Take two
17/05/2010 07:33:35 PM
- 968 Views
Re: Take two
17/05/2010 11:45:08 PM
- 982 Views
Re: Take two
18/05/2010 12:52:10 AM
- 1041 Views
Re: Take two
18/05/2010 01:35:46 AM
- 1127 Views
Re: Take two
18/05/2010 01:45:24 AM
- 1056 Views