If we were supposed to expect much from Moiraine, why the silly storyline and countless wasted pages on saving her? She really did nothing after returning.
Brandon Sanderson. Also, it was probably supposed to be a significant character development event for Mat. Sanderson did not really develop the characters at all.
Note that aside from some hints, RJ didn't really build up Moiraine's return all that much, aside from the reveal of her letter one book before he planned to write her rescue. It was not his idea to have her rescue come six years after we read the letter, and had all that time to work ourselves into a frenzy over it.
Just because there was not a lot of motion and bloodshed does not mean nothing was going on. Sanderson just isn't very good at writing anything but that.
“Tolerance is the virtue of the man without convictions.” GK Chesteron
Inde muagdhe Aes Sedai misain ye!
Deus Vult!
*MySmiley*