No, I don't think so - Edit 1
Before modification by Sidious at 21/01/2010 04:50:18 PM
2. I don't believe the Finns transferred the power from Lanfear to Moiraine. I believe it had something to do with both of them channeling through the same angreal when they went through the doorway.
Have we any clue that such a exchange in the theoretical OP strength between two channelers could happen?
I mean, we know that channelers can in the worst case burn out, if they mess with *angreal. Therefore I can buy that maybe Moiraine burned out and Lanfear was at least temporarily unable to channel, as a side-effect of falling with another channeler through a melting ter'angreal while both were using an angreal. It also makes sense that Moiraine actually wanted to achieve that, because otherwise Lanfear could likely simply return to Randland and attack Rand again.
But it seems pretty crazy to me that this incident could somehow lead to Lanfear (why not Moiraine?) losing an - apparently completely random - amount of her possible OP strength and Moiraine (why not Lanfear?) gaining this potential, especially since according to BS the OP strength is tied to the respective body of a channeler (or do you think that Lanfear and Moiraine changed bodies?). That such a thing could happen and would even have an important plot relevance seems like a complete deus ex machina explanation.
Another problem is then the question, how the Finn can hold Moiraine, if she is such a strong channeler now (though I suppose one could also explain it with some super ter'angreal they have).
Finally, in her last PoV in TFoH, ch.53, Moiraine suppresses "a small bubble of hope", before she attacks Lanfear. As we learn from her letter in KoD, Moiraine definitely knew that she would survive this, but would be captured by the Finn with the good possibility that Thom & Co. will successfully rescue her. Therefore I think the small bubble of hope Moiraine suppresses most likely means that she hopes against all odds that she won't burn out, though she is very certain that this will happen.
Well clearly what happened to Lanfear is a unique thing, because all of the Forsaken discount Cyndane being Lanfear based on her OP strength. We also know that Forsaken were occasionally resurrected in the War of Power, so a reduction in strength is unheard of. IMO two women falling through a ter'angreal while holding saidar could yield a wierd result.
Why did Moiraine arrange for Lanfear to get the angreal? Surely if she had USED the angreal herself, instead, then Moiraine with an angreal, plus Aviendha plus Egwene plus Rand with his angreal would have been more than powerful enough to defeat Lanfear on her own.
Instead, Moiraine had a purpose for the angreal, which involved Lanfear using it. It is a purpose beyond just getting Lanfear to climb onto the wagon, because if Moiraine on her own could balefire Be'lal, then Moiraine with that angreal could have easily balefired Lanfear. Especially if Moiraine was expecting the confrontation at the Docks.
No, I think Moiraine knew Lanfear had to have the angreal, in order for OTHER benefits to take place, BEYOND the doorway. Benefits like the exchange of power if they both channeled through the angreal as they went through.
I think this is part of what Moiraine learned in her viewings of the future. Because otherwise there is no conceivable reason why Moiraine would let Lanfear get access to the angreal, rather than using it herself to aid Rand in the battle.
Moiraine put the angreal on the wagon because it was the only way she could get Lanfear to climb on top of it and stand in front of the doorway ter'angreal. RJ confirmed that the reason she was on the wagon was for the angreal. Moiraine initially erred here, and faced Lanfear at the base of the wagon - and nearly died for it.
Moiraine knew that there were only three ways that the scenario could end. Lanfear killed Rand, Rand walked away with Lanfear as Lews Therin, and Lanfear fell through the doorway with Moiraine. If Moiraine has linked with Aviendha and Egwene, and had the angreal, they all would have died certainly. Either Lanfear would have killed them all, or Rand would have helped her.