In CoT chapter 20, starting on page 596 of my paperback version we have an Egwene dream that reads, "She was struggling up a narrow, rocky path along the face of a towering cliff. Clouds surrounds her, hiding the ground below and the crest above, yet she knew that the ground below and the crest above, yet she knew that both were very far away. She had to place her feet very carefully. The path was a cracked ledge barely wide enough for her to stand on with one shoulder pressed against the cliff, a ledge littered with stones as large as her fist that could turn under a misplaced step and send her hurtling over the edge. It almost seemed this was like the dreams of pushing millstones and pulling carts, yet she knew it was a true dream.

Abruptly, the ledge dropped away from under her with the crack of crumbling stone, and she caught frantically at the cliff, fingers scrabbling to find a hold. Her fingertips slid into a tiny crevice and her fall stopped with a jolt that wrenched her arms. Feet dangling into the clouds, she listened to the falling stone crash against the cliff until the sound faded to nothing without the stone ever hitting the ground. Dimly, she could see the broken ledge to her left. Ten feet away, it might as well been a mile off for all the chance she had of reashing it. In the other direction, the mists hid whatever remained of the path, but she thought it had to be farther away still. There was no strength in her arms. She could not pull herself up, only hang there by her fingertips until she fell. The edge of the crevice seemed as sharp as a knife under fingers.


Suddenly a woman appeared, clambering down the sheer side of the cliff out of the clouds, making her way as deftly as if she were walking down stairs. There was a sword strapped to her back. Her face wavered, never settling clearly, but the sword seemed as solid as the stone. The woman reached Egwene's level and held out one hand. "We can reach the top together," she said in a familiar drawling accent.

*End* Following lines are taking the dream line by line, so first sentence = dream, rest = interpetion.

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She was struggling up a narrow, rocky path along the face of a towering cliff - Confronting Rand and options are 'narrow'; tread carefully. The towering cliff would be Rand. She's struggling up the cliff due to his supporters that back him as well.

Clouds surrounds her, hiding the ground below and the crest above, yet she knew that the ground below and the crest above, yet she knew that both were very far away. I take this to represent the rift in those in favor of breaking the seals, and those that do not. She knows both of these grounds because she knows her side. As well as knowing those on the other side (Rand, Perrin, Nynaeve (probably) etc.)) They are far away because one side is: Go break the seals and the other side is, do not break those seals.

She had to place her feet very farefully. She's in a tenous postion.

The path was a cracked ledge barely wide enough for her to stand on with one shoulder pressed against the cliff, a ledge littered with stones as large as her fist that could turn under a misplaced step and send her hurtling over the edge. The path is cracked because Egwene's encountered more opposition, possibly due to Rand's speach and it puts her into a corner. The ledge is littered with stones because these are all the people that could sway the meeting in Rand's favor. Back against the wall and one wrong move will send the 'littered stones' as large as a fist into Egwene failing in convincing of the Seals being broken.


It almost seemed this was like the dreams of pushing millstones and pulling carts, yet she knew it was a true dream. This is probably meaning that the two sides are entrenched and won't be budged.

Abruptly, the ledge dropped away from under her with the crack of crumbling stone, and she caught frantically at the cliff, fingers scrabbling to find a hold. This is incredibly interesting I think. I think this represents Moiraine's arrival at the meeting and her support of Rand. Notice the words "abruptly" and Egwene's in shock and she falls and "scrabbles" to find her center (so to speak).

Her fingertips slid into a tiny crevice and her fall stopped with a jolt that wrenched her arms. Again, Moiraine's arrival and Egwene trying to find her center desperately.

Feet dangling into the clouds, she listened to the falling stone crash against the cliff until the sound faded to nothing without the stone ever hitting the ground. Moiraine's arrival and prompt support of breaking the seals leaves Egwene reeling and her support, possibly crumbling - next line of dream supports this.

Dimly, she could see the broken ledge to her left, Ten feet away, it might as well been a mile off for all the chance she had of reaching it. Again very interesting one I think. This " broken ledge" would seem to be Aes Sedai unity fracturing as she sees "dimly to her left" her support of not breaking the seals faltering. "It might as well..." because their opposition to breaking the seals has been crushed, most likely due to Moiraine. Her "chance of reaching it" (Moiraine's reputation). She's standing on that precipice now that Moiraine's voiced support for the Dragon.

In the other direction, the mists hid whatever remained of the path, but she thought it had to be farther away still. "The other direction" is Rands side and the mist are hiding the path because she doesn't know what happens if the seals are broke. She thinks it's further away still because it's not in line with not breaking the seals. Another possibility is Egwene has failed. She can't see the 'path' (not break the seals) anymore. Indeed, the 'path' is further away now.

There was no strength in her arms. Despair, loss of hope perhaps - the end if the seals are broke.

She could not pull herself up, only hang there by her fingertips until she fell. Her efforts to convince Rand have failed. She can only wait until the seals are broke and the world ends. Perhaps she can't pull herself up because her "don't make me force my hand" didn't work.

The edge of the crevice seemed as sharp as a knife under fingers. Multiple interpertations possibly. Most likely referring to how rough this meetings going to be for her. As well as her despair at failing to convince Rand not to break the seals.

Suddenly a woman appeared, clambering down the sheer side of the cliff out of the clouds, making her way as deftly as if she were walking down stairs. This is Tuon coming down to Egwene. Down representing Tuon going to Egwene, the Amyrlin of the White Tower. Deftly as if they were stairs because she's sure in here purpose to ally with Egwene. Also deftly could be refuring to Tuon's political acumen in making this decision of an alliance.

There was a sword strapped to her back. This could be a few things I admit. I favor the sword either represents Mat and/or Seanchan Empire. It either represents Matrim being 'tied around her finger' or Jordan's WOT prose, "Strapped to her back".

Her face wavered, never settling clearly, but the sword seemed as solid as the stone. Tuon's face wavers due to Seanchan's ingrained cultural attitude towards collaring channelers. If the sword represents Matrim, then it's solid as stone because hell or high water he will save Egwene.

The woman reached Egwene's level and held out one hand. "We can reach the top together,". She said in a familar drawling accent. Reaching her level means they agree on opposing Rand and his insistence on breaking the seals. Together, Egwene's supporters and Tuon's Empire can reach the top together, above the clouds to the Light.