On the day before the meeting at the Field of Merrilor, Rand and Tam dine in Rand’s tent (AMoL, Ch. 3). That night, he is awakened by his dreams. Perrin arrives, and the two sit laughing into the night. Rand has asked Perrin to tell him again about the siege and battles at the Two Rivers. Rand and Perrin go for a walk through the camp, and Rand talks a little bit about what it feels like to have Lews Therin’s memories. Silently, Rand worries about what he has to do, thinking that perhaps the answer is not to seal the Bore, but to do “Something more permanent.” They stop at the clerks’ tent to speak to Sebban Balwer, who lets Rand know that Roedran will be attending the meeting; now, all major rulers will be attending the meeting at the Field of Merrilor. Suddenly, the ground begins to shake and there is thunder, signs of the imminent new Breaking. When the shaking stops, Balwer tells Rand that he suspects Elayne may be up to something as he’s just learned that she was recently awakened by her advisors. As Rand and Perrin leave the tent, Rand ruminates on Elayne’s pregnancy, which he has learned of very recently, and they head to Perrin’s camp to see if they can learn anything about what Elayne might be planning. As they walk, Rand talks more about Lews Therin and his madness, and they discuss Rand’s plan to break the seals. Perrin makes Rand promise that there won’t be any fighting between the groups that have gathered for the meeting (AMoL, Ch. 1).
News arrives to Rand and Perrin about the attack on Caemlyn. Rand is alarmed that Elayne might leave before the meeting begins the next day, knowing that he needs everyone to be there. He tells Perrin that there is no way to save the city if Trollocs have taken it, and he hopes that ultimately the attack on Caemlyn will make Elayne more likely to agree with his plan. Rand tells Perrin to go spend the rest of the night with Faile, and then goes off to find out what’s going on in Andor (AMoL, Ch. 1). Rand sends Elayne a letter that insists she should go to Caemlyn. It is a ploy to trick her into staying at the Field of Merrilor; Elayne sees through it and rightfully deduces that Rand wants her at the meeting, although she is unsure why. She wonders if he thinks she will support him because of their relationship (AMoL, Ch. 2).
Later that night, Rand is looking over a document in his tent (the treaty he plans to present at the meeting the next day). Aviendha, who arrived at the Field of Merrilor a short while before, shows up at his tent. Rand tells her that he cannot choose between her, Elayne, and Min, as he loves them all, but Aviendha tells him that he does not have to—he can either have them all, or none of them. Rand and Aviendha spend the night together (AMoL, Ch. 3). When they fall asleep, Moridin pulls Rand into a dreamshard consisting of a meadow filled with dead grass.. They discuss a number of things, including Lanfear. To Moridin’s shock, Rand takes control of the dreamshard, making it green, and Rand tells Moridin to tell the Dark One that “I’m coming for HIM!” Moridin disappears, and Rand exits the dreamshard so that he can get some sleep (AMoL, Ch. 4). When Rand wakes up on the day of the meeting, he tells Katerin to inform the other rulers that the meeting will take place in an hour. Aviendha tells Rand that today, she will need a boon from him; she cannot tell him what it is, and she does not make him promise to grant it, but rather wants him to know it is coming because “one does not ambush a lover” (AMoL, Ch. 5).
Rand arrives at the spot that has been designated for the meeting. Where he walks, the grass grows greener. Using saidin, he erects a pavilion and tells all of the gathered rulers that they may each bring 5 people into the pavilion with them. King Roedran of Murandy is one of the last into the pavilion; when he enters, Rand looks carefully into his eyes only to realize that Demandred has not, as Rand had thought, been posing as Roedran after all. Following his brief appraisal of Roedran, Rand greets all of the gathered rulers. He tells them that they must be unified if they are to win the Last Battle, and that he is not willing to die on their behalf only to have them start fighting for power amongst themselves in the aftermath. To this effect, he demands three things of them in exchange for his life. The first is that they accept a treaty named the Dragon’s Peace. Among other things, the Dragon’s Peace will prevent the current nations from expanding their borders and attacking other nations, and will require all nations to defend any nation that has been attacked. The second is that the White Tower allow him to have possession of the seals so that he may break them. The third is that Rand wants to command everyone's armies in the Last Battle, to ensure a unified fight. There is a great deal of arguing over all of his requirements. People are split on his terms: Darlin, Gregorin, and Elayne join Egwene in opposition to Rand, while the Borderlanders, Galad, and Berelain all show some level of support for Rand. The Aiel and Sea Folk, among others, do not join in the arguing (AMoL, Ch. 5).
Just as the arguing appears to have reached a climax, with Rand and Egwene exchanging heated words, Moiraine enters the pavilion to Rand’s shock (AMoL, Ch. 5). Moiraine’s appearance breaks the tension, and everyone is able to proceed in talking about Rand’s demands in a more structured fashion. There are several concerns that are brought up: the Seanchan remain a threat, there is no way outlined in the Dragon’s Peace to settle minor disputes that could eventually break into war, and the Aiel threaten to leave Rand if he does not include them in the treaty. Perrin and Rand discuss behind a ward, with Perrin suggesting that the Aiel be written into the treaty as a method of enforcement and a way to mediate disputes. Everyone eventually accepts this proposal, as well as Rand’s promise that the treaty will be void if he cannot get the Seanchan to sign it. Moiraine is able to settle the disputes surrounding Rand’s other 2 demands. She convinces Rand that he cannot command the armies as he will be busy at Shayol Ghul, convinces Egwene that the seals are prophesied to be broken, and convinces Rand that Egwene should be the one to break the seals when the time is right, as the Amyrlin Seat is the Watcher of the Seals. Everyone eventually signs the treaty, with Rand offering command of the armies to Elayne (AMoL, Ch. 6).
Before Rand leaves to “complete some tasks” prior to going to Shayol Ghul, he arranges for help to be sent to Lan (AMoL, Ch. 6; AMoL, Ch. 7). Some of the tasks he wants to see to include visiting the Seanchan (AMoL, Ch. 6) and the Black Tower (AMoL, Ch. 7). Before he leaves, he also tells Bashere “to watch over” Elayne (AMoL, Ch. 8). It is decided that Ituralde will head the army that accompanies Rand to Shayol Ghul (AMoL, Ch. 7). They are waiting for the right time to strike (AMoL, Ch. 9).
A few nights after the meeting at the Field of Merrilor, Rand waits for Elayne in her tent, and when she enters they talk about their unborn children. Elayne says that if one is a boy, she is thinking of naming him Rand, but Rand asks her not to because he wants his children to be able to “live their own lives. My shadow will be long enough as it is.” They also talk about the war and have dinner together. For the first time, Rand talks about what happened the day he went to Dragonmount. He speaks as well of his wish that no one had to die for him, though Elayne insists that he cannot deny people the right to defend themselves. Rand gives Elayne a gift, a Seed that will allow her to make angreal, though he warns her not to try until after the war as it will weaken her for some time. In return, Elayne gives Rand the ter’angreal that prevents the Shadow from seeing the bearer. They stay together for the rest of the night (AMoL, Ch. 9).
Rand travels to Tarwin’s Gap to aid Lan and the Borderlanders. Moiraine goes with him but disagrees with his decision, thinking that he should be at Shayol Ghul already. Rand doesn’t feel that it is time, yet. He wants to convince the Dark One that he is with the armies, thus drawing forces away from Shayol Ghul. Rand and Lan meet in Lan’s tent, and Rand gives him two Malkieri crowns that he had made based off of old drawings, one for Lan and one for Nynaeve. Rand then uses a gateway to bring him closer to the Shadow’s forces so that he can attack them. He realizes shortly afterwards that it is a trap, as Taim and others are waiting to shield him. Rand is barely able to fight them off and he weaves a gateway to bring him back to Lan’s tent (AMoL, Ch. 11). That night, Rand creates a dreamshard for himself, but in it he notices a cavern that he didn’t place there. Within, he finds Cyndane, who tries to trick him into freeing her. He sees through her guise, and tells her that he is done with her forever. He shows her his mind so that she can feel Lews Therin’s love for Ilyena, and Rand’s for Aviendha, Elayne, and Min, as well as the fact that he feels nothing for her (Cyndane). He then leaves the cave (AMoL, Ch. 12).
Rand goes to the Blight, accompanied by Moiraine, Thom, Nynaeve, Aviendha, Cadsuane, and others, as a test to see whether the ter’angreal Elayne gave him will work in hiding him from the Dark One. Perrin finds him there with Naeff’s help and asks for Rand’s aid in entering Tel’aran’rhiod in the flesh. Rand warns Perrin of the dangers, but opens a gateway into Tel’aran’rhiod for Perrin anyway, promising to have an Ash’aman weave a similar gateway everyday at dawn so that Perrin can return when he is done. Rand and Perrin say goodbye, and Perrin hugs Rand before he leaves (AMoL, Ch. 13).
The night before Elayne’s forces are to leave Braem Wood for Cairhien, Rand visits to speak to Tam. He doesn’t sneak in, but lets the soldiers see him, because Elayne has told him it will give them heart. Rand enters Tam’s tent. He has come to give Tam a replacement sword for the one Tam gave him so long ago, and Tam reluctantly accepts it. Rand thanks his father for teaching him the flame and the void, which has saved Rand’s life and helped him through many difficult times. Tam leads Rand out to the practice grounds and runs the sword through a few sword forms. Rand is envious, as he feels he can no longer do the forms with only one hand. Tam takes up two practice swords and convinces Rand to practice with him, tying a handkerchief around one of his own hands so that he cannot use it and thus making it a fair fight. At first, Rand doesn’t really try, feeling that it is no use. But as they continue, he can see that Tam has obviously practiced fighting one handed and is able to do it with skill. Rand begins to really try, and he and Tam end up having a good practice spar. Rand begins to realize that maybe he doesn’t have to give up the sword after all (AMoL, Ch. 15).
Rand returns to Merrilor, and plans to go to Ebou Dar to see Mat and speak to Tuon. While at Merrilor, he and Moiraine speak, and Rand tells her that he plans to kill the Dark One. Moiraine does not believe it can be done, but Rand is firm. He thanks Moiraine for her advice nonetheless, and tells her he has a debt to her. Moiraine replies that she could do with some tea, and so Rand brings her some (AMoL, Ch. 16).
Rand sneaks onto the grounds of the Tarasin Palace to speak to Mat and Tuon. He is captured by the Deathwatch Guards and brought to Tuon in the palace gardens. Tuon is horrified when she recognizes him and screams for her damane, who proceeds to wrap Rand and Mat both up in flows of air. Mat and Rand bicker a little, both trying to one-up the other with the things they’ve achieved since they last saw each other. Rand begins to convince Tuon to sign the Dragon’s Peace and fight alongside his forces at the Last Battle. He counters Tuon’s claim that she has a right to these lands because Artur Hawkwing conquered, telling her that as Lews Therin Telamon, his own claim of dominion supersedes her own. Tuon is stricken at this revelation but insists that Rand has no right to the land because Lews Therin broke it. As he talks, grass and flowers grow, proving his link to the land. He asks her to join him in the fight against the Shadow, going down on one knee, bowing his head, and offering his hand to her in alliance. In doing so, he fulfills the Seanchan prophecy that the Dragon Reborn will kneel before the Crystal Throne. Mat takes Tuon aside and urges her to accept Rand’s offer. Rand promises her that if she signs the Dragon’s Peace, she can keep the land she has already captured. Tuon insists that she be able to keep the damane she has captured as well, or she will not sign the treaty, and Rand reluctantly agrees. He warns her, however, that she cannot take any more channellers allied with him during the Last Battle, and that any attempt to take damane outside of her lands after the Last Battle will be seen as an act of war. She agrees (AMoL, Ch. 17).
Rand fights Trollocs alongside Elayne’s army near the Alguenya river. He is disguised as Jur Grady so as not to draw the attention of Dreadlords. He has fought like this on all of the battlefronts. When the sun breaks the clouds as it always eventually does around him, he drops his disguise so that the soldiers can see that it is him and leaves before he can endanger the troops by drawing further attention from the Shadow. The troops cheer for him (AMoL, Ch. 18).
Rand Travels back to Merrilor, where Min is waiting for him. Cadsuane approaches and she and Rand speak alone. Cadsuane warns him that, although she is not as opposed to Rand’s delays as Moiraine is, thinking there is some value to them, he must still move on Shayol Ghul soon. She also shows concern that he is so convinced he will die, telling him that he must retain some small hope of living through his ordeal. Rand asks Cadsuane if she will help Aviendha with the resistance against the Forsaken at Shayol Ghul while Rand is battling the Dark One. She agrees, and then tells him that the Black Tower has recently freed itself from Taim. Rand is shocked, and feels guilty that he didn’t do something to help sooner, although he also knew it was a trap for him (AMoL, Ch. 18).
Rand leaves a letter in Egwene’s tent asking if she will meet him, “but not as Dragon and Amyrlin. As old friends.” The meet in the White Tower. Rand gives Egwene a hair ribbon, telling her he wants to “make amends,” that she is like a sister to him, and that he doesn’t want their last encounter to have been an argument. Egwene embraces him. Rand asks if he can see the seals before he leaves, promising not to break them. Rand realizes that the seals Egwene has are fake. The Shadow somehow managed to steal the real ones and replace them with fakes before they were transferred to Egwene (AMoL, Ch. 19). Rand has promised to try to find them (AMoL, Ch. 20).
Rand is scouting out Shayol Ghul again, along with Aviendha, Rhuarc, Ituralde, Nynaeve, Moiraine, and others. He and Aviendha speak briefly about his plan to kill the Dark One, with Aviendha wondering if there is any way to take the Dark One gai’shain, as it would bring more honour. They all Travel back to their camp, where the forces who will fight at Shayol Ghul are waiting, including Aiel, Domani, Tairens, all of the Aes Sedai personally sworn to Rand, a number of Asha’man and their bonded Aes Sedai, and a large group of Dragonsworn. Back at the camp, Rand tells Aviendha that he is now certain the ter’angreal Elayne gave him (an Artham) works, and that he will be able to avoid the Dark One’s detection until he is at the Bore itself. He tells Aviendha about the seals being stolen, and also that he is concerned about the attacks the Forsaken will level at Shayol Ghul when they realize that Rand is there. While Ituralde will be in charge of Rand’s troops at Shayol Ghul, he wants Aviendha to lead the channellers and to guard his back against the Forsaken. Rand sends sends Min to go keep a watch over Egwene and the Seanchan, whom he has sent to fight alongside the Aes Sedai. He then announces that the next day, they will move on Shayol Ghul (AMoL, Ch. 20).
Before finally going to Shayol Ghul to battle the Dark One, Rand sends a last message to the Black Tower: “that we’re not to think of ourselves as weapons, but as men” (AMoL, Ch. 21). He also at some point sends a note to Logain along with an angreal, telling Logain about the stolen seals and asking him to find them (AMoL, Ch. 37). He also warns Aviendha to keep an eye out for Darkfriends amongst the channellers (AMoL, Ch. 23).
The day arrives when Rand and his forces are to invade Thakan’dar. Aviendha goes through a gateway, and once the battle has begun, she creates a gateway for Rand at the start of the path leading up the side of Shayol Ghul. Rand, Moiraine, Thom, and Nynaeve step through and begin their journey. Rand has both Laman’s sword and Callandor with him. Rand and Aviendha raise their hands to each other, “their only farewell if he failed in his task or she died during hers." Rand, Moiraine, Nynaeve, and Thom walk up the path to the mouth of Shayol Ghul. It is a difficult path to climb, as the “winds buffeted him, threatening to throw him from the heights.” The wound in Rand’s side breaks open, spilling his blood on the rocks of Shayol Ghul. Rand requests that Moiraine and Nynaeve enter into a circle with him. He insists on leading the circle, even though Callandor’s flaw will leave him open to being controlled by others. Thom remains outside to guard the entrance to Shayol Ghul, and Rand, Moiraine, and Nynaeve enter. Rand hears the same voice he heard at the Eye of the World, telling him that “IT IS TIME. LET THE TASK BE UNDETAKEN.” He has been hoping to hear this voice again, confirming that he has chosen the right time to attack (AMoL, Ch. 23).
As Rand, Moiraine, and Nynaeve make their way down into the Pit of Doom, the walls and ceiling seem to close in on them until Rand declares aloud to the Dark One that he will not crawl. Rand can tell that one of the women he is bonded to is in pain but he cannot tell who. Finally they meet Moridin, who is standing before a pool of blackness. The dead body of Shaidar Haran lays at his feet; the Dark One has abandoned Shaidar Haran’s body and become the blackness behind Moridin. Rand tries to convince Moridin to return to the Light, but Moridin attacks Rand instead and they begin to battle (AMoL, Ch. 25). Slayer attempts to attack Rand at several points as he battles Moridin, but Perrin and Gaul defend him (AMoL, Ch. 25; AMoL, Ch. 30). A number of Black Aes Sedai also try to reach him to attack, but Thom stops them (AMoL, Ch. 44).
Although days have passed for the armies, for Rand it has been much less due to the time distortion at the Bore (AMoL, Ch. 29). Rand and Moridin continue to fight, with Rand using Callandor not as a sa’angreal but as a sword. Rand continues to bleed (AMoL, Ch. 30). He lands a strike against Moridin, drawing blood, but then Moridin manages to get him to stumble and fall to one knee. Rand accidentally touches the blackness behind him, and everything goes dark (AMoL, Ch. 30). Rand’s soul is now in “A place outside of time, outside of the Pattern itself.” The blackness tries to claim him, but he manages to anchor himself in the Pattern. Now, he knows, the real fight against the Dark One will begin (AMoL, Ch. 34). His physical body, back in the cavern, freezes the instant his foot touches the blackness. Moridin is frozen as well. Rand is pulling an enormous amount of the One Power through the circle, but Nynaeve doesn’t think he is actually using it for anything (AMoL, Ch. 35).
Nynaeve discovers that a seriously wounded Alanna is chained to one of the cavern walls, and realizes that Alanna was kidnapped as a trap. Her death will make Rand lose his mind at the breaking of their bond. Nynaeve tries to gain control of saidar from Rand so she can Heal Alanna, but she can’t since he is leading the circle (AMoL, Ch. 36).
The Dark One attacks Rand’s very essence, and Rand thinks that the Dark One is trying to tear him apart. Rand manages to hold on and taunts the Dark One that this attack will not break him. The Dark One tells Rand that in actuality, he is not trying to destroy Rand, but is merely preparing to show him the truth. The Dark One proceeds to spin the threads of the Pattern to show Rand a nightmarish possible reality in which the Dark One has won and remade the world: the Blight has swallowed up the Two Rivers, his people are captive, Tam dies before his eyes, and Nynaeve is one of the Forsaken. Rand counters with an attack of his own, spinning the threads of the Pattern to show the Dark One a different possibility: one hundred years after the Last Battle, there is a nearly utopic world and war is almost unheard of. However, Rand allows doubt to creep in because he knows this world isn’t real yet and that there are people dying in the Last Battle. He thinks that his sacrifice should be the only death required. The Dark One tells Rand that suffering cannot be eliminated (AMoL, Ch. 37).
The Dark One attacks again and dispels the reality Rand has spun. He shows Rand what is happening in the Last Battle. Then the Dark One creates another possible reality: the Dark One has won, and has removed all good and Light from the world. He has removed everyone’s consciences and tricked them into thinking that they’ve won so that they will never fight against his tyranny. Rand tells the Dark One that rather than causing Rand to despair, in fact Rand is now more determined to fight against him. Rand then spins a reality in which there is no Shadow, no Dark One. However, this reality turns out to be nightmarish in a different way. He meets Elayne in Caemlyn, and she is vapid and not like herself. The Dark One says that removing him from the world so that people have no choice but to be good is the same as a world where people are unable to be anything but evil. In this way, the Dark One says, he would actually win if Rand were to kill him (AMoL, Ch. 37).
Rand is devastated by the fact that so many people are dying. Their names begin to run through his mind. This time, the list is not limited to just his litany of dead women, but is a list of all the people he hasn’t been able to save. He is forced to watch as people continue to die at Merrilor. The Dark One once more tries to destroy him, but Rand is somehow able to resist. For a moment, he is tempted to give in, and he thinks of how ashamed Nynaeve and Moiraine, who he can see in the cavern, would be if they knew that. He screams for it to end, and the Dark One tells him “IT CAN.” Rand, however, ultimately continues to resist. The Dark One says that he will show Rand one more thing, and spins nothingness. He offers Rand a compromise: instead of a world of peace or a world of suffering, there will simply be nothing. For a moment, Rand considers it, since this would be one way to end pain and suffering. He decides, however, that this would not truly be peace and rejects the offer. The Dark One tell Rand he will not offer again (AMoL, Ch. 37). When Egwene dies, Rand screams and remembers his promise, when they initially left the Two Rivers, to keep her safe. Egwene’s name is added to his growing list as the Dark One continues to attack him. He watches as Elayne and their unborn children are threatened, as a compulsed Rhuarc is commanded by Graendal, and as Lan falls while killing Demandred (AMoL, Ch. 37; AMoL, Ch. 38). Rand is still desperate to save everyone, but he hears Tam’s voice faintly in his head telling him to “Let go,” and that all those who have died have chosen to sacrifice themselves. He then hears Egwene’s voice, asking him, “Am I not allowed to be a hero, too?” She tells him that he cannot take away people’s right to die for what they believe in. With her prompting, Rand is able to let go of his guilt and shame for not being able to protect everyone. He runs backward through the list of names in his head, letting go of them. Ilyena’s is the last (AMoL, Ch. 38).
Rand is now stronger against the Dark One’s attacks (AMoL, Ch. 38). He realizes that the Dark One can’t win as long as people don’t give up, and that this is why the Dark One has been trying to break him. He tells the Dark One so, and the Dark One replies that he can still command death and that he will kill Mat, who is still leading the remainder of the Light’s forces against the Shadow. Rand tells the Dark One that he is wrong, because Lan, who was thought dead, is still alive despite how hard the Dark One has tried to kill him (AMoL, Ch. 39). When the fighting at Merrilor is over and the forces of the Light have come out victorious against all odds, Rand tells the Dark One that he has lost because he cannot ever inspire his followers to “fight on when hope is lost.” The Dark One reminds Rand that he, at least, will die, and Rand replies that he is aware of this and invites the Dark One to kill him before “throwing himself into the blackness” (AMoL, Ch. 43).
Rand finally disentangles himself from the blackness and renters the world where his body and Moridin’s are still locked in combat. He and Moridin fight briefly, and Moridin throws a knife to kill Alanna. However, thanks to Nynaeve, Alanna is now lucid enough to be able to release Rand’s bond before she dies. Rand moves to strike Moridin with Callandor, but just then Moridin stabs his own hand with a knife, which causes Rand to drop Callandor (AMoL, Ch. 46). Moridin picks up Callandor, and it is revealed to be not only a sa’angreal for saidin, but also for the True Power. Moridin uses it to draw in the True Power, and Rand’s plan is revealed: Callandor’s flaw allows Nynaeve and Moiraine to take control of Moridin while he channels. Once they have done so, they link with Rand, and Rand is able to channel saidin, saidar, and the True Power all at once. Rand breaks through the blackness and grabs ahold of the Dark One (AMoL, Ch. 47). In this moment, Logain breaks the seals (AMoL, Ch. 48).
Despite the fact that most of what the Dark One has said to him are lies, Rand knows that one thing is true: if he kills the Dark One, he will create a world no better than if the Dark One had won. He uses saidin, saidar, and the True Power to create a brand new prison for the Dark One that is Pure Light (AMoL, Ch. 49). Now done with the Last Battle, Rand tries to carry Moridin out of the cavern. When he trips, an old woman in Aiel clothing who he doesn’t recognize gives him encouragement (AMoL, Epilogue).
Rand and Moridin both survive, but are dying. No amount of healing from Flinn or Nynaeve seems to make any difference. Eventually, however, Moridin starts to get better, although Rand does not, which Nynaeve finds consummately unfair. Everyone thinks it is odd that Min, Elayne, and Aviendha don’t seem to care or be affected, and none of them are by Rand’s side as he dies (AMoL, Epilogue).
Rand’s body dies and a funeral is held. However, during the Last Battle, Rand and Moridin actually switched bodies, so it is Moridin who is truly dead. This is why Min, Elayne, and Aviendha are not seen to grieve over Rand, knowing through the bond that he is okay. The three women agree amongst themselves that they must make sure everyone believes Rand is dead, although a few people such as Nynaeve and Cadsuane appear to suspect something (AMoL, Epilogue).
Rand wakes up in Moridin’s body. Alivia has left his things and a great deal of money for him, fulfilling Min’s viewing that Alivia will help Rand “die.” Rand sneaks out of the camp and rides off to see the world and live his life. He can longer channel, which he discovers when he tries to light his pipe. However, he has some sort of power, as he is then able to just will his pipe into being lit. He can feel Min, Elayne, and Aviendha through the bond, and wonders which of them might come after him first (AMoL, Epilogue).
