My speculation on chapter titles - Edit 1
Before modification by Corwin at 20/10/2009 08:25:37 PM
User Supermanblue2001 on dragonmount.com posted the chapter titles from the audio book that he/she has. I don't know if these are accurate, however, I believe it is after reading the thread (see link below).
"All the Chapter Titles
Prologue: What The Storm Means
Chapter 1: Tears from Steel
Chapter 2: The Nature of Pain
"All the Chapter Titles
Prologue: What The Storm Means
Chapter 1: Tears from Steel
Chapter 2: The Nature of Pain
We know about these first three.
Chapter 3: The Ways of Honor
This could be a non-main character chapter (such as a Tuon chapter), or it could be part of Rand's plot line (see below).
Chapter 4: Nightfall
Chapter 5: A Tale of Blood
Chapter 6: When Iron Melts
Chapter 7: The Plan of Arad Doman
Chapter 5: A Tale of Blood
Chapter 6: When Iron Melts
Chapter 7: The Plan of Arad Doman
Main plot lines have always been grouped into blocks of chapters, and I believe the above chapters are the first part of Rand's story arc, although they may not necessarily all be from Rand's POV.
Chapter 8: Clean Shirts
As above with Rand, I believe this chapter begins Perrin's story arc in TGS.
Chapter 9: Leaving Malden
Chapter 10: The Last of the Tabac
Chapter 11: The Death of Adrin*
Chapter 10: The Last of the Tabac
Chapter 11: The Death of Adrin*
All Perrin, given that Perrin's few chapters in TGS will probably be consecutive and not spread out over the course of the book.
Chapter 12: Unexpected Encounters
Again in Perrin's plot line - I think this may be a reference to the long-awaited meeting between Perrin and Co. and the Whitecloaks with Galad, where Morgase's identity will finally be revealed. This may be the last of the chapters from Perrin (I remember reading that there were five for both him and Mat, but I don't know if this was meant to be exact or just an approximation).
Chapter 13: An Offer and a Departure
I think this chapter will also be in Perrin's plot line, given what I speculated will happen in the chapter "Unexpected Encounters" above. It may not, however, be from Perrin's POV if the total number of chapters from Perrin is, in fact, only five.
Chapter 14: A Box Opens
This chapter may be the first part of a block of Egwene chapters, or may be about a minor character.
Chapter 15: A Place to Begin
Chapter 16: In the White Tower
Chapter 17: Questions of Control
Chapter 16: In the White Tower
Chapter 17: Questions of Control
I believe these chapters are all part of an Egwene block.
Chapter 18: A Message in Haste
Chapter 19: Gambits
Chapter 20: On a Broken Road
Chapter 21: Embers and Ash
Chapter 22: The Last That Could Be Done
Chapter 19: Gambits
Chapter 20: On a Broken Road
Chapter 21: Embers and Ash
Chapter 22: The Last That Could Be Done
I believe these five chapters are all from Mat's POV, and are his only appearance in the book (based on statements made about the inclusion of Perrin and Mat in TGS). The chapter "The Last That Could Be Done" sounds dramatic enough for a cliff-hanger in Mat's plot line (which was expected in the build-up to the rescue of Moiraine that will occur, presumably, in ToM).
Chapter 23: A Warp in the Air
Chapter 24: A New Commitment
Chapter 24: A New Commitment
Not sure with either of these chapters - they are possibly part of the long block of Rand chapters that seems to follow, or maybe from minor characters.
Chapter 25: In Darkness
Likely Rand.
Chapter 26: A Crack in the Stone
I think this may be the chapter Jason from Dragonmount spoke of in his review, where something extremely dramatic happens with Rand, likely concerning his complete emotional breakdown. "The Stone" in the chapter title is, then, a reference to Rand's self-proclaimed attempt to make himself, emotionally, a stone; it is not a reference to the physical structure the Stone of Tear.
Chapter 27: The Tipsy Gelding
No idea, but I don't think it is a Mat chapter, for reasons I explained above.
Chapter 28: Night in Hinderstap*
Again, no idea, but could be a place in Arad Doman we don't know of yet, and would therefore be a chapter from Rand's story arc.
Chapter 29: Into Bandar Eban
Chapter 30: Old Advice
Chapter 31: A Promise to Lews Therin
Chapter 32: Rivers of Shadow
Chapter 33: A Conversation with the Dragon
Chapter 34: Legends
Chapter 35: A Halo of Blackness
Chapter 30: Old Advice
Chapter 31: A Promise to Lews Therin
Chapter 32: Rivers of Shadow
Chapter 33: A Conversation with the Dragon
Chapter 34: Legends
Chapter 35: A Halo of Blackness
This appears to be another large block of chapters from Rand's story arc. I believe it is near the end of these chapters that Rand makes his agreement with the Seanchan. The chapter "A Conversation with the Dragon" could be a reference to ongoing diplomatic discussions between Rand and Tuon (and may be from Tuon's POV).
The chapter "Legends" could have to do with Rand's sword, which many readers believe to be Artur Hawkwing's sword Justice. My interpretation that in these chapters Rand is negotiating with the Seanchan may be supported by the fact that, as many have speculated, Rand's possession of Justice will be important to his peace with the Seanchan.
"A Halo of Blackness" is when, I believe, we will see Semirhage's anticipated escape attempt. Many have speculated that this will be crucial in pushing the Seanchan into an alliance with Rand against their common enemy, the Shadow.
Chapter 36: The Death of Tuon
As someone pointed out on Dragonmount, this does not literally refer to the death of Tuon, but instead to her taking another name and becoming Empress - and consequently ceasing to be Tuon. This seems to make sense chronologically given my predictions of how events will occur throughout the previous few chapters. During Tuon's negotiations with Rand it will be revealed by Semirhage that the former Empress and the entire royal family (excluding Tuon) are dead. This will prompt Tuon to proclaim herself Empress.
Chapter 37: A Force of Light
Not sure about this, but it could be the last chapter in the Rand/Tuon story arc, where negotiations are concluded successfully, and Rand's forces and the Seanchan now form a unified "Force of Light" against the Shadow.
Chapter 38: News in Tel'aran'rhiod
This chapter, presumably, begins the last block of Egwene chapters in TGS building up to the climax of her plot line.
Chapter 39: A Visit from Verin Sedai
Again, in Egwene's plot line. It appears that Verin (who, many have speculated, left Rand to collect the Horn of Valere from the Tower in preparation for TG), will be around for the climax of Egwene's plot line, and may be instrumental in helping Egwene to take control of the Tower for the sake of Rand.
Chapter 40: The Tower Shakes
Chapter 41: A Fount of Power
Chapter 42: Before the Stone of Tear
Chapter 43: Sealed to the Flame
Chapter 44: Sense Unknown*
Chapter 45: The Tower Stands
Chapter 41: A Fount of Power
Chapter 42: Before the Stone of Tear
Chapter 43: Sealed to the Flame
Chapter 44: Sense Unknown*
Chapter 45: The Tower Stands
It seems that this is the climax/conclusion of Egwene's story arc in TGS, where, presumably, the imminent Seanchan attack is thwarted and Egwene is recognized as Amyrlin over Elaida. I'm not sure how the chapter title "Before the Stone of Tear" fits into all of this, but I have a hard time imagining that this block of chapters would be interrupted (especially after the chapter "The Tower Shakes" by a chapter that would have to be about a minor character at this point. Possibly it is a reference to events with the Black Ajah before the fall of the Stone of Tear. Some have speculated that the "Great Purge" occurring in the Tower will coincide with the Seanchan attack and conclusion of Egwene's story arc, so perhaps this chapter title is a reference to the conclusion of Egwene's hunt for the BA that began in TDR.
Chapter 46: To Be Forged Again
This could either be the last Egwene chapter (and be a reference to the Tower being reforged and whole once more), or it could be the first chapter of Rand's last block of chapters.
Chapter 47: The One He Lost
Chapter 48: Reading the Commentary
Chapter 49: Just Another Man
Chapter 50: Veins of Gold
Chapter 48: Reading the Commentary
Chapter 49: Just Another Man
Chapter 50: Veins of Gold
These will all be Rand chapters, concluding his story arc in TGS. The chapter "The One He Lost" is the most intriguing chapter title in the book just looking at them here, in my opinion. I don't think it is a reference to Moiraine and her significance as the first "lost" female character who fought for him (as there is a fair amount of evidence suggesting she won't be back until ToM), so could it be a reference to his missing hand (which I believe will be replaced/healed prior to TG)? The last two chapter titles, "Just Another Man" and "Veins of Gold," seem to imply some return to normalcy on the part of Rand at the end of this book, where he stops trying to be superhuman and relearns laughter and tears.
Epilogue: Bathed in Light
No idea, but the epilogues tend to have rather ambiguous titles.
*indicates a possible spelling error by me. I only have the audio book and can't confirm spelling until I get a hardcopy on Oct. 27th"