Concerning Rand, I have a few points to make. First, many people forget that Lews Therin Telamon is tied to the wheel just like Birgitte, Gaidal Cain, Artur Hawkwing, etc. If anyone disagrees, read Hawkwing's words in The Great Hunt, and Ishamael's words in the prolougue to The Eye of the World. So, I believe that Rand will die and come back to life, but he will only wait in Tel'aran'rhiod. It seems that the Dragon is unique in being born only once per age, and only at the end of each age. However, after reading Rand's certainty that he will die over and over again, I just can't believe that he will. He may be wounded, badly, but with Nynaeve wielding that sa'angreal, I don't believe that there is anything that she can't heal. Secondly, in the chapter of The Great Hunt entitled 'What Might Be,' the Dark One doesn't break free until Rand is in his seventies. It might just be stupid, but maybe Robert Jordan will make a 'Thirty years later type of thing before the last book. Any comments. If anyone actually bothered to read this whole thing than thank you.