You seem to be resting your assessment of the Nicola foretelling on your theory that Rand will fake his own death. I think there is a great deal more evidence pointing to Rand dying a literal death during TG and being reborn in some manner afterward. Your evidence for Rand faking his own death, such as the prophecy of Logain stepping over a paper puppet of Rand, could be interpreted as Logain stepping over a fake Rand (such as Taim posing as Rand), or even just Logain succeeding Rand following TG (in which case this prophecy could be interpreted as you did, where Rand is not really dead, but taking place after TG and not before).
As said in another post, a main reason why I place Nicola's Foretelling at a time before TG is the last line. If you compare it to the header Prophecy of CoT you'll see that both seem to play in the current most uncertain time before TG.
Also, there are some flaws in the logic of what you are suggesting. Assuming the events of the Nicola foretelling happen chronologically, it appears that Rand faking his own death (by your interpretation) occurs prior to "the great battle," which you have suggested to be the Seanchan attack on the WT - but you also state that you think Rand will fake his death sometime in the beginning of AMoL. Now, considering we have very strong indications that the Seanchan attack on the WT will happen in TGS, there seem to be some issues with time line in your interpretation. Also, we can assume that Rand's truce with the Seanchan will come at some point before AMoL, most likely in TGS, but the foretelling states that "the land [is still] divided by the return," which would be before the time when you believe Rand will fake his death, again raising issues with the chronological sequence of the foretelling.
As I understand it the Prophecy states that Rand & Co. are on a boat (the WO had a similar Dream with tilting scales), while the battle at Tar Valon is already done. It also seems that the AS are united again and that the BT didn't already split, because the guardians balance out the servants (surely AS and AM will become our group during and especially after TG, so that's another hint that points to a time before TG). I think that Rand will ally himself to the Seanchan. Their territories will still be divided, though.
One can expect, though, that after TG, the AS and Asha'man will already be one group.
And, apart from all that, why would a battle that will be small meat compared to TG be referred to as "the great battle?" Sure, this will be an important battle, but it is doubtful it will be any larger than Dumai's Wells, and while it may be relevant to the future of the Aes Sedai, Dumai's Wells was clearly more important to the future of the world.
The battle at TV will still be great, in my view, as e.g. also the end of PoD foreshadows:
"At Tar Valon, some stories said, great armies had clashed, and the streets ran with blood, and rebel Aes Sedai had stuck the head of Elaida a'Roihan on a pike."
Dark Phrophecy would really like Sidious' input
- 30/09/2009 03:18:21 PM
933 Views
Yes
- 30/09/2009 03:34:05 PM
679 Views
Wasn't it The Great Battle done? *NM*
- 30/09/2009 04:28:54 PM
212 Views
Yes...
- 30/09/2009 04:42:09 PM
623 Views
I agree with fionwe1987. IMO that was a reference to Fel & Rand's discussion earlier about TG.
- 01/10/2009 05:21:16 AM
570 Views
There also is another Dream...
- 01/10/2009 04:07:29 PM
486 Views
Was that cited as a Dream, or one of those she thinks are just nightmares? Because it can't happen.
- 02/10/2009 01:38:47 AM
497 Views
I disagree
- 30/09/2009 05:58:24 PM
673 Views
Well...
- 30/09/2009 06:41:04 PM
641 Views
*NM*