Alright, so there's a lot of discussion going on in this board right now; unfortunately, it all seems to center around the prologue, which I'm not getting so it's all wasted posts as far as I'm concerned. Obviously, I have not read the prologue, so if this is answered in the prologue, sorry.

Everyone knows about Rand's problem with women, the list in his head, and the fact that he can't hurt or kill them. Even if it means he and his women friends will die, he can't strike back at a woman.

By now, Rand should know that there is a woman out there channeling Saidin. She appeared at the Cleansing, and his Aes Sedai/Asha'man followers were spreading the story when they met with the Rebel Tower. I'm not sure how much his minions reported back to him, but Rand probably knows that there was a Saidin-channeling woman based out of the Rebel Camp. This could lead him to believe that it's a widespread occurrence, or they could have figured out that it's the same woman.

I've seen theories that Semi or Moraine will reveal to Rand that the DO is reincarnating Forsaken and that this will probably lead to Rand Balefiring all his enemies from now on.

But what will Rand do with Aran'gar? Will he be able to see her as Balthamel and fight her? Or will her present body prevent Rand from attacking her? Could Rand kill her while thinking of her as Balthamel and then later realize that (s)he was also a chick and (possibly combined with Moraine's return) get over his block? Or will Rand never meet or fight Aran'gar, and instead will (s)he be matched against another Lightsider?