You just don't seem to understand... - Edit 1
Before modification by DomA at 14/11/2010 12:32:59 AM
When I said this wasn't Rand's battle, and he didn't intend to lead the world to battle, just offer his guidance because he has more important things to do that only he can do, I was quoting him speaking to his "followers" in TOM.
He's telling his "followers" just that: take your responsabilities again, I won't be holding your hand anymore. This wasn't what I was meant to do.
What the old Rand never understood is that he could force the whole world to the LB. He's lost much time and efforts trying to force people to do his bidding, who were not seing their interest in it, nor the urgency to abandon everything dear to them for him - many of which spent more time trying to undermine him and his efforts. He doesn't have "followers", there not the Dragon's, they're believers in the Light, fighters against the Shadow just like him, not the Dragon's lapdogs. Rand's doesn't want dragonsworn surrounding him anymore, and waiting for him to make all the decisions, he wants people to become Lightsworn.
Rand understands this now. He wants people to go into the LB with the same convictions, the same faith that the Light must be saved, the same love of life and Creation he has found in himself. He wants them to go through a version of his own epiphany, because this is the right state of mind to go to the LB. He's done seing the people as a flock of helpless sheep. Yes, he could keep ordering them around, and they'd keep ressenting him when they don't like his orders, and blaming him sometimes more than the Shadow for what happens to them. But he's done with this style of tyrannical leadership, he wants the world to speak and act for itself.
By letting Egwene a full month to "plan", Rand meant to leave her a full month to prepare to fill the power vacuum and recreate ties between the world's leaders, recreate some of the order that existed before his coming. Political alliances are one thing the Tower has the resources and skills for. Rand doesn't want to impose his decision on the whole world, he wants to convince them he is right. He is expecting fears and opposition, he just intends to deal with them all at once at the meeting. He wants that opposition to come out in the open right away. He doesn't want another Fateful Concord. Had he tried to keep the Amyrlin out of it. and to prevent the Tower from influencing the people following him, that's exactly what he would have created. He wants the Tower to have the full freedom to try opposing his views if they're convinced he is wrong. They won't be able to say anymore the rest of the world is under the spell of the Dragon, out of fear or compelled etc. Obviously, if the rest of the world have solid arguments to convince him he is wrong, Rand now has the humility and wisdom to wish to hear their case before he makes his final decision. If they can't make a case against his decision, the whole world will see this.
It is pretty obvious in the scene itself that both Rand and Egwene are doing the right thing. The rest of the room could barely breathe, caught in the pull of Rand's web of destiny, forced into silence. Egwene didn't even notice any such thing... She's going in the right direction, and so does Rand. The Wheel didn't even need to pull at her, nor orient or correct her actions - and the Wheel sent her an ominous looking Dream about the breaking of the seals. That is very, very telling. Rand also acknowledges Egwene's role and importance and the influence of the Wheel over her path. One of the first things he told her was "so, I see you have done your part". Rand's done thinking everything rest on his shoulders. He has faith in the Creator and its Wheel now, and fully understands the purpose of ta'veren.
If Rand didn't want Egwene to interfere, he would never have told her a month in advance what his decision was. He would have placed her in front of the accomplished fact, exactly like he's always done before. Going to the Waste, coming to Cairhien, attacking Rahvin, attacking the Seanchan in Ebou Dar, Cleansing saidin, trying to force a truce with the Seanchan, and so on and so on. Never before Rand has left anyone much say in his decisions. Now he wants people to be part of what his perhaps the most ominous decision of all, and to know in advance what they will be discussing. Everyone will have to live with the fact the Bore is unsealed. And they all have a month to plan and find their own motivation to fight the Last Battle.
Don't forget he went in there knowing very well Egwene would be very angry at his decision. He still thought the right course of action was to tell the Watcher of the Seals this part of her job will be over in a month if he has his way.
He's telling his "followers" just that: take your responsabilities again, I won't be holding your hand anymore. This wasn't what I was meant to do.
What the old Rand never understood is that he could force the whole world to the LB. He's lost much time and efforts trying to force people to do his bidding, who were not seing their interest in it, nor the urgency to abandon everything dear to them for him - many of which spent more time trying to undermine him and his efforts. He doesn't have "followers", there not the Dragon's, they're believers in the Light, fighters against the Shadow just like him, not the Dragon's lapdogs. Rand's doesn't want dragonsworn surrounding him anymore, and waiting for him to make all the decisions, he wants people to become Lightsworn.
Rand understands this now. He wants people to go into the LB with the same convictions, the same faith that the Light must be saved, the same love of life and Creation he has found in himself. He wants them to go through a version of his own epiphany, because this is the right state of mind to go to the LB. He's done seing the people as a flock of helpless sheep. Yes, he could keep ordering them around, and they'd keep ressenting him when they don't like his orders, and blaming him sometimes more than the Shadow for what happens to them. But he's done with this style of tyrannical leadership, he wants the world to speak and act for itself.
By letting Egwene a full month to "plan", Rand meant to leave her a full month to prepare to fill the power vacuum and recreate ties between the world's leaders, recreate some of the order that existed before his coming. Political alliances are one thing the Tower has the resources and skills for. Rand doesn't want to impose his decision on the whole world, he wants to convince them he is right. He is expecting fears and opposition, he just intends to deal with them all at once at the meeting. He wants that opposition to come out in the open right away. He doesn't want another Fateful Concord. Had he tried to keep the Amyrlin out of it. and to prevent the Tower from influencing the people following him, that's exactly what he would have created. He wants the Tower to have the full freedom to try opposing his views if they're convinced he is wrong. They won't be able to say anymore the rest of the world is under the spell of the Dragon, out of fear or compelled etc. Obviously, if the rest of the world have solid arguments to convince him he is wrong, Rand now has the humility and wisdom to wish to hear their case before he makes his final decision. If they can't make a case against his decision, the whole world will see this.
It is pretty obvious in the scene itself that both Rand and Egwene are doing the right thing. The rest of the room could barely breathe, caught in the pull of Rand's web of destiny, forced into silence. Egwene didn't even notice any such thing... She's going in the right direction, and so does Rand. The Wheel didn't even need to pull at her, nor orient or correct her actions - and the Wheel sent her an ominous looking Dream about the breaking of the seals. That is very, very telling. Rand also acknowledges Egwene's role and importance and the influence of the Wheel over her path. One of the first things he told her was "so, I see you have done your part". Rand's done thinking everything rest on his shoulders. He has faith in the Creator and its Wheel now, and fully understands the purpose of ta'veren.
If Rand didn't want Egwene to interfere, he would never have told her a month in advance what his decision was. He would have placed her in front of the accomplished fact, exactly like he's always done before. Going to the Waste, coming to Cairhien, attacking Rahvin, attacking the Seanchan in Ebou Dar, Cleansing saidin, trying to force a truce with the Seanchan, and so on and so on. Never before Rand has left anyone much say in his decisions. Now he wants people to be part of what his perhaps the most ominous decision of all, and to know in advance what they will be discussing. Everyone will have to live with the fact the Bore is unsealed. And they all have a month to plan and find their own motivation to fight the Last Battle.
Don't forget he went in there knowing very well Egwene would be very angry at his decision. He still thought the right course of action was to tell the Watcher of the Seals this part of her job will be over in a month if he has his way.