The Great Hunt: Chapter 47
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Author: Atarah al'Norahn
Chapter Icon: The Horn of Valere
Points of View: Rand, Geofram Bornhald
Contents
Outline
Rand, Mat, Perrin and Hurin find themselves between the Whitecloaks and the Seanchan. Mat blows the Horn to help the fight. While the battle goes on, Rand fights Ba'alzamon.
Summary
Rand's Point of View:
Setting: Falme
Characters: Mat, Perrin, Rand, Hurin.
Rand and Hurin meet up with Mat, Perrin and the others. When Ingtar is inquired after, Rand tells them that he is fighting so that they can get away. He thinks: "Ingtar, a Darkfriend. I don't care. He was still my friend." Rand tells Mat, Perrin and the others to take the Horn of Valere to Verin, and that he will go rescue Egwene. Mat says that they will all take the Horn to Verin, and then they will all go to rescue Egwene. While they stand there arguing about it, Seanchan soldiers are approaching from one side, and Whitecloaks from the other.
When they see no way to get out alive, Mat says: "It has to be at the Last Battle. Nothing says it can't be used before then. Nothing says it can't." With that, he blows the Horn of Valere.
Geofram Bornhald's Point of View:
Setting: Outside Falme
Characters: Geofram Bornhald
Meanwhile, Geofram Bornhald is sitting in his saddle when he hears the Horn of Valere. A mist begins to rise, and he thinks of the Seanchan. "The Seanchan. They are trying something. They know we are here." He orders the legion to charge. In the resulting battle, he is killed.
Rand's Point of View:
Setting: Outside Falme
Characters: Mat, Perrin, Rand, Hurin., The Heroes of the Horn, Ba'alzamon.
The fog is growing thicker, but Rand is able to see. 'He could see it, but it was mad. Falme floated somewhere beneath him, its landward border black with the Seanchan ranks, lightning ripping its streets. Falme hung over his head. There Whitecloaks charged and died as the earth opened in fire beneath their horses' hooves. There men ran about the decks of tall, square ships in the harbor, and on one ship, a familiar ship, fearful men waited. He could even recognize the face of the captain. Bayle Domon. The Heroes of the Horn are seen riding towards them. Rogosh Eagle-eye, Gaidal Cain, Birgitte, Mikel, Paedrig, Otarin, many others, and at their head, Artur Hawkwing. There are little more than a hundred of them, which is cause for some surprise.
Artur Hawkwing tells Rand that they cannot follow him if everything is not in place. Looking around, he realizes that there is no Dragon Banner. Upon mentioning it to Rand, Rand digs it out of his saddlebags. Now the Heroes of the Horn are able to follow him. "The Pattern weaves itself around our necks like halters. You are here. The banner is here. The weave of this moment is set. We have come to the Horn, but we must follow the banner. And the Dragon." Perrin puts the banner onto a sapling shorn of all its branches. Mat blows the horn again, Perrin carries the banner, and they ride forward.
Suddenly, everything around Rand changes. He can still see his friends and the Heroes of the Horn, but only as he was able to see Falme before. He rides on alone through the mist, until he comes upon Ba'alzamon. He is thrown from his horse, and when he gets back to his feet, Ba'alzamon is still there.
Rand can still see his friends. Artur Hawkwing and the other heroes are meeting the Seanchan in the dense fog. Perrin is swinging his axe, and Mat is still blowing the Horn of Valere, while Hurin is fighting on the ground.
Rand steps forward, assumes the void, and reaches for saidin. Ba'alzamon taunts him about Egwene, about him turning to the Dark One, and about the Horn of Valere, thinking that it was Rand who sounded it. Rand attacks Ba'alzamon, and they battle. Ba'alzamon continues to taunt Rand. As they continue to fight, Rand can still see the battle between his friends, the Heroes and the Seanchan. He realizes that both battles are linked; whenever he advances, so do the Heroes of the Horn, and when he falls back, the Seanchan rise up.
Ba'alzamon tries to convince Rand that he is the only one who can save him. Rand realizes what he must do. He assumes the first position of 'Heron Wading in the Rushes', which leaves him completely exposed to an attack. "I will never serve you, Father of Lies. In a thousand lives, I never have. I know that. I'm sure of it. Come. It is time to die." Ba'alzamon attacks, using his staff as a spear. It pierces into Rand's side, and Rand screams before driving his sword into Ba'alzamon's heart.
Notes
Visions and Prophecy
- Mat
- Mat blows the Horn of Valere - this is likely Min's viewing of a Horn
Character Development
- Mat
- Blows the Horn.
- Perrin
- Carries the banner.
Mysteries
- Is Rand actually in the clouds?
- Is Rand right that he never served the Dark One?
- How could Egwene and Nynaeve save him?
- Why couldn’t the heroes charge?
- Are they always bound to the Dragon Banner or just this time?
- Could they follow the banner no matter who held it, or did the Dragon Reborn have to be there?
- Is it correct that they would follow a Darkfriend? Would he or she need the banner?
- When did Artur Hawkwing face Lews Therin?
- Do they both have lives in other ages in which they are opponents?
Characters
- First Mention
Mikel, Paedra, Otarin
- First Appearance
Birgitte, Artur Hawkwing, Mikel, Paedra, Otarin
Nature
- Animals
- Dove
- Kingfisher
- Silverback
- Slug
Spoilers
This section contains Notes on this Chapter which may contain spoilers. Please expand to view.
Mysteries
- Is Rand actually in the clouds?
This is not explained in the books, but it was revealed in a question and answer session.
- Is it correct that they would follow a Darkfriend? Would he or she need the banner?
In the Last Battle, Artur Hawkwing claims they would not follow a Darkfriend.
