I have been pondering Aviendha's visions of the future. What do they mean, in terms of the Last Battle? I think, as others have said, the placement of her chapters was awkward, but unlike others, I don't see how Rand achieving a zen state detracts from their poignancy.

This is what I think her visions mean: Rand wins the Last Battle. And they all lived happily ever after...or so it would seem...

In the Fields of Merrilor, regardless of whether he goes on to break the seals or not, Rand makes nations swear to make peace with one another, if he's going to bother trying to save the world at all (Rand's dream in the Epilogue hints to me that that's what he plans to ask of them, or something like that). His proclamation becomes known as the Dragon's Peace.

However, somehow, the Aiel feel exempt, as do the Seanchan.

Possibly, sometime between now and visiting Shayol Ghul, Rand re-visits Tuon, somehow winds up bowing before her. Many he notices that his bootlaces are untied. Whatever the cause, the Seanchan view his bowing as denoting his lowered status vis a vis the Empress, and so they do not feel bound by his declaration of peace either (this is stated by an Aiel in Aviendha's visions, although it may or may not be accurate, given the source).

Already we see tensions brewing. In one of the Perrin chapters of TOM, Edarra, the Wise One, flatly states that they will go to war with the Seanchan to rescue the captured Wise Ones. This seems unrelated to Rand's zen-ness. Rather, it is the winds of war, so to say.

What's more, based on the final vision, it seems as though Rand is completely gone from the picture post-LB. Aviendha either dies in childbirth, or sometime soon afterward. Elayne is also dead and/or gone. Otherwise they ought to have been alive in for at least the final two visions. Moreover, Tuon's reign was incredibly short--possibly she is assassinated before retaking the Seanchan mainland. Rhuarc is dead as well, possibly Amys too. That's a lot of key players.

Other interesting things from the visions: Catch the blink-and-you-missed-it reference to Shara. Seems like the Seanchan are trying to build a transcontinental railroad. But talk about a mystery--how can Shara not have a role in the Last Battle? This irritates me.

Tuon's knowledge that she and other sul'dam can learn to channel appears to have had absolutely no effect on Seanchan culture. Elayne's grand plan of destroying them from within by sending them channeling sul'dam was an utter failure. Unless that was something Tuon was trying to change about her culture, until her enemies had her killed/leashed. There's Egwene's vision of the Seanchan and the WT working together somehow, but even if that's Tuon herself, if Tuon dies soon afterwards, it will only be a LB-helpful alliance, not a post-LB alliance.

Finally, it seems that there are no darkfriends. There isn't any mention of the Shadow or Shadowspawn or darkfriends. So, the last battle is won, but the world is still a terrible place.

What can Aviendha do to change this? My best bet is that she somehow saves Tuon's life. Possibly through her ter'angreal-reading ability. Although this in and of itself is not sufficient to change Seanchan views of channelers, it might be enough to enable a more lasting peace between the two nations. But frankly, I'm not satisfied with that. The entirety of the future of the post-LB world depending on Aviendha saving Tuon? I don't buy it. So I am mystified. And curious what others think.

EDIT: Final thought: what do Nakomi put in the food? An intriguing character for sure. Seasoned salt? MSG? Almond extract?