I don't know if there will be major physical combat at the last battle; I personally feel that most of the physical fighting will occur before and after the actual confontation between Rand and the Dark One at Shayol Ghul (I believe that the supposed "Last Battle" will cleanse Saidin and free the DO a little more, but not seal him). At Tarmon Gaidon, Rand will arrive at Shayol Ghul dead, or die once he gets there. If he arrives dead, it will be because Elayne, Aviendha and Min brought hm, on a boat. At any rate, he will be laid on a funeral bier. I believe death will come from the wounds in his side. An eclipse, or perhaps a wierd balefire side effect will cause Rand to come back to life, although in a less literal sense he could awaken from a coma. He will walk all the way up the slopes of Shayol Ghul (I believe so because it speaks of his blood on the rocks; travelling wouldn't allow that), enter the pit of Doom, do something, and end up with Saidin cleansed. Rand and his Three will drop out of sight. He'll end up in rags, with a walking stick, blind, and possibly already missing his hand. References: Nicola's fortelling, tLoC: 14, page 255; The Karaethon Cycle, tGH: 26 page 387; The Karaethon Cycle, tGH: 8, pg 110; The Karaethon Cycle, tSR: 3, pg 71; Egwene's Dreams, tLoC: 15,pg 258-9; Perrin's Dreams, tSR: 53, pg 612; Wise One's Dreams, LOC: 19, pg 312-3; Min's Visions, EotW: 17, pg 215-6 (I think).