By Rands return, she was completely oblivious to who he (possibly even she) was, until right before she was tendrilled at the end. Between her disappearance and his return, Rand seemed to consider the possibility of her survival very real, so it was not terribly surprising (if anyone could do it, it would be an Aiel; I just try not to think about what she ate.... ) Probably just as well she DID die there, because she was probably beyond saving by the time Rand found her (or vice versa,) but there was no way he would have left her there again given the choice.

The only real question is why she did not leave initially, and why she did not rejoin the group when they spent the afternoon searching for her on the previous trip, but your answer has always made the most sense.