The Dragon Reborn: Chapter 54

Into the Stone

Atarah al'Norahn

Characters: Mat, Juilin, Rhuarc, Gaul

Setting: The Stone of Tear

Point of View: Mat

Mat is studying the Stone of Tear from the rooftops of nearby houses and contemplating his way in. He has his quarterstaff and bundle of fireworks with him. While watching, he sees somebody climbing up the wall, just as he intends to do, and Mat wonders who it is (Rand). While he is distracted, he is attacked by a small group of Aiel, whom he tries to fight back, but they trap him. The Aiel want to know why Mat is watching the Stone, and another voice speaks up, saying that he wants to know why the Aiel have been watching the stone; it is Juilin, who has also been sneaking around the rooftops. When the Aiel pose the same question to Juilin, he says, "I…did a thing today that…troubles me”. One of the Aiel introduces himself as Rhuarc, and we learn a bit later on in the chapter that another one is Gaul, the Aielman that Perrin rescued earlier from a cage. When asked again why he is there, Mat tells the Aiel and Juilin that some friends of his are in the Stone as prisoners and that he means to rescue them. The Aiel leave and Juilin offers to help Mat; he says that he can get Mat into the Stone by pretending to be taking Mat, as a prisoner, to the cells.

Mat, unsure of whether or not to trust Juilin, tells the other man to wait for him and walks along the top of the wall that leads to the Stone. When he reaches the Stone, he shoves the bundle of fireworks into an arrow slit and lights the fuses. The fireworks blow a big hole in the wall, which surprises Mat, who had only been hoping to cause a distraction. For a moment, he tries to decide whether he should trust Juilin and go back or just go through the hole he has created, and finally he enters the Stone on his own. Inside, he meets at least ten Defenders of the Stone and begins to fight them, knowing that he can't beat them all. However, Juilin shows up, obviously having followed Mat, and joins him in defeating the Defenders. Juilin leads Mat away towards the cells, while Mat thinks to himself that he will rescue Egwene, Elayne and Nynaeve or die trying.

Characters: Rand

Setting: The Stone of Tear

Point of View: Rand

Rand can hear alarm gongs going off in the Stone of Tear, but ignores them as he hurries through the hallways towards Callandor. He thinks to himself, "I will finish it at last. One way or another, it will be done with. The dreams, finished. The baiting, and the taunting, and the hunting. I'll finish it all!”

Characters: Egwene, Nynaeve, Elayne, Joiya Byir

Setting: The Stone of Tear, Tel'aran'rhiod

Point of View: Egwene

Egwene wakes up in one of the cells in the Stone of Tear, thinking that she has been captured and collared by the Seanchan again. Nynaeve and Elayne soothe her. All three women are shielded from the Source, and Egwene learns that they have been in the cell for hours. She tells the others that Liandrin and the Black Ajah are using them as bait for Rand.

Egwene realizes that she still has her dream ter'angreal with her and decides that perhaps she can do something to set them free through Tel'aran'rhiod, since she would still be able to channel in Tel'aran'rhiod. She falls asleep.

Now in Tel'aran'rhiod, Egwene finds Joiya Byir, who is also in the World of Dreams, standing in the Heart of the Stone of Tear before Callandor. Joiya is surprised to see her, and before she can do anything, Egwene shields and binds her, informing her that, since she is now trapped in Tel'aran'rhiod, she will probably not be able to wake up so long as she is shielded in the World of Dreams. Egwene then beats Joiya with flows of air, in reparation for the beating that Egwene received when she was captured.

Egwene leaves Joiya and hurries off to find the Tel'aran'rhiod version of the cells, hoping that she can do something to set herself and the others free.

Characters: Perrin, Hopper, Faile

Setting: Tel'aran'rhiod

Point of View: Perrin

Perrin, now in the Stone of Tear in Tel'aran'rhiod, is searching, along with Hopper, for the trapped Faile. He has been fighting guards, all of who seem surprised to be there (and so were likely pulled into the World of Dreams against their will). He uses his hammer to break open a locked door and finds Faile lying on a long stone block as if sleeping, her body covered in chains that tie her to the block. He crosses over to her and touches her face. She wakes up, telling him that she kept dreaming that he would come for her. He starts to free her, but she fades away. Perrin and Hopper begin to search again.

Characters: Mat, Darlin Sisnera, Juilin

Setting: The Stone of Tear

Point of View: Mat

Mat is fighting against one of the High Lords of Tear, Darlin Sisnera, who is very good with a sword. They are blocking the hallway, making it impossible for Juilin to get by them. Mat continues to attack Darlin, lulling him into a pattern of defense and then switching his attack so as to surprise the High Lord and knock him unconscious.

Juilin joins Mat, who swings his quarterstaff up onto his shoulder; as he does so, his quarterstaff hits another High Lord on the head, saving Mat from his attack purely out of luck. Mat quickly hits the High Lord again, knocking him unconscious, as well. Mat and Juilin set off for the cells again.

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