A Memory of Light: Chapter 37
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Chapter Icon: Ancient Aes Sedai Symbol
Points of View: Lan, Elayne, Uno, Logain, Gawyn, Tam, Pevara, Rand, Galad, Egwene, Faile, Perrin, Androl, Rhuarc, Silviana, Min, Demandred, Juilin, Fortuona, Bashere, Arganda, Olver, Leane, Talmanes, Ila, Hurin, Berelain, Taim
Outline
Mat leads the battle at the Field of Merrilor while Rand and Perrin fight their own battles. Lan kills Demandred
Summary
Lan's Point of View:
Location: The Field of Merrilor
Characters: Lan, Andere, Logain
Lan and Andere ride to the River Mora where they are to lead the cavalry as the frontline against the trollocs and Sharans. they see Logain there, with a group of Asha'man and Aes Sedai. They cross at Hawal Ford and attack the Sharans riding between bogs and Polov Heights.
Elayne's Point of View:
Location: The Field of Merrilor
Characters: Elayne, Birgitte, Mat, Tuon
Elayne hears Draghkar in the Seanchan camp at the base of Dashar Knob and starts riding towards the noise. Birgitte alerts her and she weaves a thunderclap, deafening those around here and rendering the Draghkar's call useless. They ride into the camp and see over a hundred of the Drakhar. Elayne haas Birgitte to tell one of the sul'dam to Heal. She enters the command building, where Mat tells her he had been expecting her. He explains that if he had revealed the true battle plan, it would have got back to the enemy. She asks what the real plan is, and he doesn't tell here. She realises that he can't say anything as it might be overheard.
Uno's Point of View:
Location: The Field of Merrilor
Characters: Uno, Allin, Aludra, Demandred, Einar, Kwamesa, Talmanes
On the Heights, Uno watches the battle begin to unfold, with Talmanes and Aludra ordering the dragons. A raken drops a message telling him to retreat down the southwestern slope. They begin to do this when they come under attack from the Sharans. Lightening rains down on them overwhelming the Aes Sedai and Asha'man defenders. An immense gateway opens behind them and they see Demandred, who weaves balefire killing Kwamesa, then Einar. Uno realises the wisdom of the order to retreat and organises his men.
Logain's Point of View:
Location: The Field of Merrilor
Characters: Logain, Androl, Arel Malevin, Canler, Demandred, Emarin, Gabrelle, Jonneth, Karldin Manfor, Pevara
Logain stands by the Mora, he releases the power from what had been a thirty nine person cicle and tells the Asha'man and Aes Sedai with him that they are going to try and find the Seals that Taim has stolen. He tells them to kill any male channelers they encounter and most go, leaving just Gabrelle, Karldin and Arel. He tells Gabrelle that he has released the bond to Toveine and that he will kill her if he gets the chance. He is shocked when he feels envy through the bond to Gabrelle and thnks on how she had being trying to manipulate him. He links with those remaining, drawing through the angreal that Rand had given him and tells them he means to be the one to kill Taim.
Gawyn's Point of View:
Location: The Field of Merrilor
Characters: Gawyn, Gareth Bryne, Demandred, Doesine, Egwene, Lelaine, Silviana, Siuan, Yukiri
Gawyn watches the battle through a gateway created by Yukiri. Bryne suggests that Mat is trying to bait a trap. they see Demandred kill thousands of men, but there is nothing they can do, as even if they had their own full circle, they couldn't match his power. Gawyn thinks that he had promised to stand in Egwene's shadow, but that didn't mean he had to stop doing important work. He takes out the rings he got from the bloodknifes and puts them on.
Tam's Point of View:
Location: The Field of Merrilor
Characters: Tam, Abell, Arganda, Alliandre, Azi al'Thone, Bayrd, Dannil Lewin, Galad, Tinna
On the south bank of the Mora, Tam fires arrows at trollocs that are trying to cross. Dannil tells him that Mat is sending infantry banners from the Legion of the Dragon to try and ensure that Tam's men are able to hold their positions. Tam says he will make sure Arganda and Galad know to expect reinforcements
Pevara's Point of View:
Location: The Field of Merrilor
Characters: Pevara, Androl, Canler, Emarin, Jonneth, Theodrin
Pevara fights trollocs at Howal Ford. She tells Androl her location through their thoughts and he comes to her through a gateway, from the Sharan army. They move along the southwestern base of the Heights, saving a group of soldiers on the way. They join Jonneth, Canler and Theodrin and move through another gateway. Pevara and Androl link and they continue to fight, Androl killing trollocs and Myrddraal through creative use of gatewaya. Lightening strikes at them and Androl loses his gateway, but despite being linked, Pevara is able to weave her own gateway and they pass through to safety
Mat's Point of View:
Location: The Field of Merrilor
Characters: Mat, Birgitte, Elayne, Galad, Mika, Tuon
Galad complains about Mat's decisions, but Mat tells him to do as he is told and hold the river. He agrees. Elayne also complains, but Mat responds that they put him in charge so they should let him do his job. Elayne responds with the somewhat petty argument that they made him commander of the armies but that he isn't in charge. He sends the Ogier in as reinforcements at the ford and Lan to swing round behind the second trolloc army at the ruins and hold position without engaging them and orders to Talmanes. He uses his looking glass and sees that the Sharans have moved to intercept Lan, before Lan even receives his order and realises there is a spy in the command tent. Talmanes sends a response that his forces cannot fight and that the dragons need repairing. There are five or six that are functional and more that can be repaired, but Mat decides to wait before deploying them as once he does, Demandred will strike immediately. He goes outside the command tent to talk to Elayne, who weaves a ward against eavesdropping. He tells her of the spy and that he plans to use it. He tells her that the battle is a little like cards, that you want your opponent to think they are winning and start betting too high, so that you can take advantage when the right hand comes along. He tells her that Demandred has sent a force to block the river, which will succeed before long and that they need a solid defence in place when they come over the river bed. Elayne says she will go. Mat goes back in the command tent thinking that Talmanes understood his signal and that Elayne is doing what he wanted, so now he just has to persuade Tuon.
Galad's Point of View:
Location: The Field of Merrilor
Galad leads the Whitecloak cavalry against the trollocs. After the charge, he searches out small groups of isolated men and orders them to the ruins so they can be formed into new banners. He thinks he might have given Mat to little credit. He tells Golever that he doesn't expect the trollocs to stop for the night and sees the river go dry. At that he realises he did give Mat too little credit. Golever hands him a letter from Mat instructing him to move to Howal Ford and to wait for more orders once he sees Elayne's banner
Rand's Point of View:
Location: Shayol Ghul
Characters: Rand, Dannil Lewin, Damer Flinn, Dark One, Jori Congar, Nynaeve, Tam
The Dark One shows Rand a possible future in which the Blight has overun the world. He sees Tam, Jori and Dannil working on a tree stump. Insects swarm out of it and kill Jori. Dannil takes Rand to Nynaeve who then takes him to be turned. He learns that in this reality, Nynaeve, Egwene, Cadsuane and Logain have all been turned and that Elayne, Aviendha and Min are endlessly tortured. He refuses the reality of the world and it shatters. He takes the threads of the Pattern and tells the Dark One he will show him what is going to happen.
Egwene's Point of View:
Location: The Field of Merrilor
Characters: Egwene, Chubain, Gareth, Siuan, Silviana, Yukiri
Egwene sees tiny cracks in the rocks and Yukiri tells her they think they are a result of balefire. She looks at them in detail and sees the look into pure nothing. She weaves and heals them turning them into normal cracks, before noticing that Gawyn is missing. Bryne goes to look for him and she sends Siuan to Mat and Tuon. Egwene goes through a gateway and speaks with Chubain who says at first he thought Mat was mad, but he is now able to see his reasoning for some of what he has done, but does not understand why Mat abandoned the Heights only to assault them again.
Gawyn's Point of View:
Location: The Field of Merrilor
Gawyn walks through the battlesite. He kills a trolloc that is carrying the body of Symon and immediately regrets it. He sees where Demandred is, and runs after him, thinking that someone had to kill Demandred and that Egwene and Logain can't be risked, but he can. He sees Demandred and plans to sneak up on him, pull him off his horse and kill him but Demandred senses him and turns round, aiming balefire at Gawyn, which misses. He strikes Demandred's horse and prepares to kill him after he is thrown off. A blast of air saves Demandred and the two begin to fight, Demandred waving off the Sharans. Gawyn does well at first, with the edge the rings gives him, but despite the extra speed, is unable to land a hit on Demandred. Demandred channels to throw a rock at Gawyn, hitting him, before telling Gawyn that he is the saviour and that Rand is mad, as the Great Lord cannot be defeated. He says he will protect the world by destroying it and sheltering its people. He also tells Gawyn that he believes that Mat is actually Lews Therin as no mortal general would have the skill Mat has shown. He tells Gawyn that his weakness is that he wields the sword, rather than becoming it. He stabs Gawyn in the stomach and tells Gawyn that if he survives, he should tell Lews Therin that Demandred is looking forward to a match between the two and has improved since they last met. Demandred leaves and Gawyn pulls himself onto a horse and rides off
Faile's Point of View:
Location: The Blasted Lands
Characters: Faile, Arrela, Mandevwin, Selande
Mandevwin insists that Vanin and Harnan are not Darkfriends. Faile assumes he must be wrong. She looks up and Thakan'dar and thinks she will get the Horn to Shayol Ghul. Selande and Arrele arrive from scouting and tell her they have seen a caravan
They see a village in the foothills of Thakan'dar and that there is a central supply station not far from it. A gateway opens and men trudge through with carts. Faile and Mandevwin think that sneaking through the gateway might be their best option. They see a group of Samma N'Sai and realise they won't be able to sneak past them so retreat to plan their next move.
Perrin's Point of View:
Location: Mayene
Characters: Perrin, Berelain, Janina, Uno
Perrin wakes in Berelain's palace. She tells him she has taken precautions to prevent the problems that occurred last time he spent the night in her tent. He learns that the armies now fight at the Field of Merrilor and that Faile vanished in a Bubble of Evil. He asks Janina if she can wash away his tiredness, but she says even if she knew how she wouldn't as he needs rest. He falls asleep, and considers the possibilities of the Wolf Dream, the wolf Dream in the flesh and true sleep and realises he meeds true sleep or he will die.
Androl's Point of View:
Location: Away from the Field of Merrilor
Characters: Androl, Emarin, Jonneth, Pevara, Theodrin
The group rest and Heal their injuries while planning their next move. Androl thinks he is falling in love with Pevara, and is amused as he had thought love a thing for the young. He tells her that if they are going to get the Seals of Taim, they will have to use stealth.
Rhuarc's Point of View:
Location: Valley of Thakan'dar
Characters: Rhuarc
Rhuarc stalks through Thakan'dar hunting Shadowspawn and Samma N'sei, who he thinks of as the Honorless. He and his companions come across a group that are unable to channel fighting Aiel. They slay them, but Trask is killed. He sneaks up on one of the red veiled men who is able to channel and kills him. He thinks that the Aes Sedai and Asha'man are tiring. Hessalam uses compulsion on him, turning him into her adoring slave.
Rand's Point of View:
Setting: A possible future
Characters: Rand
Rand walks through a large city in what was the Two Rivers in a world he has constructed. The Dark One tells him he has not eliminated suffering and that his vision is flawed. The Dark One attacks and the world becomes just a possibility
Silviana's Point of View:
Location: The Field of Merrilor
Characters: Silviana, Chubain, Egwene, Leilwin
Silviana attacks the Sharans with fire. The Tower forces have split in two, the infantry attacking on the heights and the other half, the cavalry to the corridor between the bogs and the heights to attack the rear flank of trollocs attacking the first group. She sees Egwene go pale and thinks she is under attack, but Egwene tells here that Gawyn has been injured. Egwene wants to go after him, but Silviana says it is too dangerous and suggests that Egwene passes the bond to her. Egwene refuses.
Elayne's Point of View:
Location: The Field of Merrilor
Characters: Elayne, Birgitte, Galad, Gareth
Elayne looks across the riverbed to the Heights, were a large number of Sharans have gathered on the heights. Birgitte tells her she now only has memories of her current life. Galad asks her why Mat wanted him there, but she has no idea. A messenger arrives with a note from Mat. It has a note telling him to do what must be done along with a copy of his medallion that Elayne made. They don't understand, so Galad turns the page over, and sees further instructions that he is to go and kill as many Sharan channelers as he can. Bryne also arrives, to tell her that Gawyn had been that way and that no one knows where he is.
Mat's Point of View:
Location: The Field of Merrilor
Characters: Mat, Logain, Mika, Tuon
Mat looks out on the battle, with the trollocs crossing the riverbed, underfire from Tam's men. He hopes Tam can hold long enough for Lan and the Borderlanders to strike the rear flank. Logain enters and Mat tells him he needs the Asha'man to help the Aes Sedai. Logain tells him it is not his war, but Mar replies it is everyone's war. He says he and his men should be at Shayol Ghul, but Mat realises he doesn't really mean this. Logain tells him that none of them are able to face Demandred and Mat realises Logain wants to. Mat knows that he has to do something about Demandred, and that even though Logain stands little chance, he may be a distraction at least, so gives him permission. He suggests to Tuon that they move her to safety, but she says she can protect herself, choosing the matter as something to fight over so that Mat can fake a split with the Seanchan. Two guards enter and Mat notices that there is a gray man with them. He sees him pull out a knife as Mika shouts that there is channeling nearby
Min's Point of View:
Location: The Field of Merrilor
Characters: Min, Mat, Siuan, Tuon
Min throws herself at Fortuona, tipping over her chair as Ayyad and other Sharans come though a hole they create in the wall. She sees Tuon abandon her costume for sleek silken trousers and shirt and run to Mat. Min steps through the hole and runs round the building, encountering a male Ayyad, who catches a knife she throws at him, before being killed by Siuan stopping his heart. She tells Siuan that Siuan was supposed to stay near Gareth, if she wanted to live and Siuan says she did that and they saved each other's lives. Min tells her the danger still exists. Siuan tells her it is more important to save Mat, even if it costs both their lives. They see Mat fighting three gray men, and one surviving damane who won't do anything as her sul'dam is dead. She sees one of the gray men has left Mat and is about to kill Tuon who she saves. She sees Siuan dead and with Mat and Tuon, steps outside
Egwene's Point of View:
Location: The Field of Merrilor
Characters: Egwene
Egwene instructs the Aes Sedai with her to try and stop the Sharans weaves while she attacks, intending to fight her way through them to Gawyn
Demandred's Point of View:
Location: The Field of Merrilor
Characters: Demandred, Galbrait, Shendla, Taim
Demandred watches the battle through the eyes of a falcon as ravens are shot down by the Borderlanders. He thinks it should give him an unsurmountable advantage, but the gateways that look down on the battle even things out. He considers Traveling to the command post at Dashar Knob but is concerned it might be a trap. He wonders why the resistance encountered when diverting the river was a small unit of soldiers and townspeople. He looks to his side and sees Shendla, with three other women and thinks that is affection for her is almost enough to change his heart. Galbrait, the leader of the Ayyad tells him she failed and that Mat escaped, but he says she wasn't supposed to kill him because he is beyond her skill. It is enough that she disrupted his command post. Demandred still suspects that Mat is Lews Therin in disguise, but feels he can't prove it. He thinks that to truly master battle tactics takes centuries. He admits to himself that in general, Lews Therin was more accomplished than he was, but that Demandred was the better general. He thinks that if Cauthon really is Lews Therin, he is a better general than he was in the Age of Legends. He wonders when Mat will commit the damane and if he can widen the fracture between them and the Aes Sedai. The three Ayyad leave and he asks Shendla if she is worried, fighting alongside Trollocs and Halfmen despite not having given herself to the Shadow. She tells him she doesn't see his actions as evil, as he will remake the world and preserve her people. He briefly wonders what he will do once Lews Therin is dead and the world has been remade. Taim arives, through a True Power gateway. He mocks Demandred for losing the battle near the ruins and Demandred has two dozen of his Ayyad shield himm but Taim seizes the True Power and fights back. Demandred shields him with a True Power shield and pulls energy out of him and the intense use of the True Power begins to unravel the Pattern. He tells Taim to keep away from him, from Lews Therin and from the enemy general, but other than that he doesn't care what chaos he creates . He turns and weaves balefire from the True Power, destroying hundreds of the forces of the Light. He tells Taim to go and is amazed that he is able to Travel with the True Power.
Rand's Point of View:
Location: The Pit of Doom
Characters: Rand, The Dark One
The Dark One tells Rand he will win eventually and prepares to show him another possible future.
Juilin's Point of View:
Location: The Field of Merrilor
Characters: Juilin, Myk, Charn
Juilin leads a squad of pikemne against a Sharan troop
Pevara's Point of View:
Location: The Field of Merrilor
Characters: Androl, Demandred, Emarin, Jonneth, Pevara, Theodrin
Androl and Pevara, wearing inverted Mask of Mirrors walk through Darkfriends, Shadowspawn and Sharans. She is not pleased when he tells her she looks good in black. Androl is disguised as Nensen and Emarin as Kash. Pevara is disguised as Alviarin and Theodrin as Rianna, with Jonneth simply as a Darkfriend. Pevara wonders about some of the battle tactics and Androl is able to telepathically explain some of what is going on. An old man interrupts the and says he will take the to the Wyld. She think son how she had intended to take multiple Asha'man warders, but can't continue her train of thought as it is interrupted by Androl's jealousy. Androl is surprised when she tells him Emarin prefers men. they see Demandred, who tells them that if he sees any Dreadlords away from the fight against the White Tower forces, he will make them wish he had given them to the Trollocs. Androl thinks what they did was effective, as they know where to find Taim
Galad's Point of View:
Location: The Field of Merrilor
Characters: Galad, Alhanra, Gawyn, Golever
Galad is feeling that the Last Battle may be the end of the world as he hunts Sharan channelers. He sees three of them and approaches. One throws a ball of fire at him, which dissipates when it hits him, leaving him singed but unharmed. She looks at him in shock as he takes her head off with his sword. Golever comes to tell him that this is a great day and the children should have done much more of it in the past. Alhanra tells him that he has found Gawyn, and Galad goes to see him. They see him, lying between two rocks and Galad assumes he is dead. Gawyn speaks and tells Galad that he had failed. Galad tells him not to die and that he won't be left without a brother, but Gawyn tells him he has one, that Tigraine went to the Waste and gave birth to a son on Dragonmount. He asks Galad not to hate Rand and dies. Galad tells Golever to take the wounded to safety and plans to fight Demandred
Egwene's Point of View:
Location: The Field of Merrilor
Egwene feels Gawyn die and lashes out with the Power until Silviana makes her realise she is out of control. Someone weaves a gateway and she leaves the battlefield through it
Tam's Point of View:
Location: The Field of Merrilor
Tam uses his last arrow, saving a Whitecloak. Downriver, the Legion of the Dragon is halting the Trollocs and his men are doing the same, He feels there is no reason to retreat, so tells the men to gather their weapons an dleave the bows, for when they have more arrows, though he knows none will come. He splits the forces into two wedges, Tam leading one and Deoan leading the other. They attacl
Fortuona's Point of View:
Location: The Field of Merrilor
Characters: Fortuona, Galgan, Karede, Mat, Min
Fortuona refuses damane Healing, though she thinks it a useful development. She realises that the Deathwatch Guards who allowed the assasins through will need punishment, as to deny it them would be to deny them their honour. She instructs Karede to go to the enemy and fight the marat'damane directly. She raises Min to the Blood. She decides that it is time to misdirect the spy. She tells Mat that he holds the ultimate responsibility for the attack and is surprised to see Galgan frown, and that Mat has already converted him. She tells him that he is not seriuos enough and he laughs, she is the only one to see an omen behind him, twin lines of smoke rising from the heights to signify a large gamble that will yield a large reward or a great cost. He tells her he as had it with her and Seanchan ways and she tells him the Seanchan should never have joined the battle. She tells the Seanchan with her that other than the Deathwatch Guards, they are returning to Ebou Dar. She hopes the spy will simply see a young woman foolish enough to want to fight on her own and believe the ploy.
Rand's Point of View:
Location: The Pit of Doom
Characters: Rand, Basel Gill, Renel, Shai'tan
Mat's Point of View:
Location: The Field of Merrilor
Tam's Point of View:
Location: The Field of Merrilor
Characters: Tam
Elayne's Point of View:
Location: The Field of Merrilor
Characters: Elayne, Birgitte, Celebrain, Charlz Guybon, Theodohr
Galad's Point of View:
Location: The Field of Merrilor
Nynaeve's Point of View:
Setting: The Pit of Foom
Mat's Point of View:
Location: The Field of Merrilor
Characters: Mat, Davram Bashere, Deira Bashere, Loial, Karede, Teslyn, Tinna
Egwene's Point of View:
Location: The Field of Merrilor
Characters: Egwene, Leilwin, Rosil, Silviana
Galad's Point of View:
Location: The Field of Merrilor
Androl's Point of View:
Location: The Field of Merrilor
Characters: Androl, Mishraile, Pevara, Taim
Arganda's Point of View:
Location: The Field of Merrilor
Characters: Arganda, Abell, Lan, Tam
Rand's Point of View:
Setting: A Possible Future
Characters: Rand, Elayne, Shai'tan
Mat's Point of View:
Location: The Field of Merrilor
Olver's Point of View:
Location: The Blight
Characters: Olver, Aravine, Faile, Mandevwin
Leane's Point of View:
Location: The Field of Merrilor
Characters: Leane, Doesine, Egwene, Raechin, Manda Wan
Talmanes's Point of View:
Location: The Field of Merrilor
Characters: Talmanes, Aludra, Dennel, Melten
Olver's Point of View:
Setting: The Blight
Characters: Olver, Aravine, Harnan, Faile, Vanin
Logain's Point of View:
Location: The Field of Merrilor
Characters: Logain, Androl, Emarin, Pevara
Egwene's Point of View:
Location: The Field of Merrilor
Characters: Egwene, Jahar, Leilwin, Merise
Ila's Point of View:
Location: The Field of Merrilor
Olver's Point of View:
Location: The Blight
Characters: Olver
Logain's Point of View:
Location: The Field of Merrilor
Characters: Logain, Demandred, Gabrelle
Egwene's Point of View:
Location: The Field of Merrilor
Characters: Egwene, Jahar, Mazrim Taim, Merise
Hurin's Point of View:
Location: The Field of Merrilor
Berelain's Point of View:
Location: The Field of Merrilor
Characters: Berelain, Annoura, Galad, Kitan, Ronja
Rand's Point of View:
Location: The Pit of Doom
Characters: Rand, Alanna, Beldeine, Davram Bashere, Deira Bashere, Hurin, Jori Congar, Karldin Manfor, Nynaeve
Taim's Point of View:
Location: The Field of Merrilor
Elayne's Point of View:
Location: The Field of Merrilor
Characters: Elayne, Birgitte, Daved Hanlon
Rand's Point of View:
Location: The Pit of Doom
Min's Point of View:
Setting: Unknown
Characters: Min, Galgan, Yulan, Tuon
Egwene's Point of View:
Location: The Field of Merrilor
Characters: Egwene, Leilwin, Taim
Rand's Point of View:
Setting: The Pit of Doom
Characters: Rand
Leane's Point of View:
Location: The Field of Merrilor
Characters: Leane
Berelain's Point of View:
Location: Mayene
Mat's Point of View:
Location: The Field of Merrilor
Characters: Mat, Arganda, Dannil Lewin, Demandred, Lan, Naeff, Neald
Loial's Point of View:
Location: The Field of Merrilor
Arganda's Point of View:
Location: The Field of Merrilor
Lan's Point of View:
Location: The Field of Merrilor
Min's Point of View:
Setting: Unknown
Characters: Min
Lan's Point of View:
Location: The Field of Merrilor
Notes
Visions and Prophecies
- Galad's body alone on a field, as if dead
- Glory of men, it's still to come
About Logain
Mysteries
- How does Mat spot the Gray Men
This is the second time he's done it