AMoL: Ch. 45: A Special Occasion
by Paetram
[A large group of characters stands among the ruins of the White Tower, where Rand, Mat, and Perrin are finally reunited.]
Everyone: Happy rebirthday Rand!
Mat: Yeah, and you'd better enjoy it since it's probably your last, what with you dying soon and all. Only, maybe it's not really your last, so what does it bloody matter, anyway?
Rand: Why does everyone keep reminding me I'm about to keel over soon? It's not like I don't know already... Hey, whose cute dog is that?
Min: Oh, that's only Perrin. As you can see, he's a dog now. It happened back in chapters 18 through 25. I was beginning to think that plot thread would never end. Remember Faile and the Shaido? That was nothing...
Aviendha: No, don't you remember? Those chapters covered Elayne's labor and birth scene. Perrin's turning-into-a-dog chapters were right after that.
Elayne: Look, he wants to play with that stick! Are you a good boy, Perrin?
Faile: I hate you Robert Jordan.
Rand: Don't worry, I'm sure he'll return to normal eventually. See? [raises his right hand] I got my hand back in chapter 34.
Mat: Rand, have you noticed it's on backwards?
Rand: [Lews Therin speaking] That weave has never worked right. Earth and Fire, then Spirit...
Semirhage: Are we going to stand here jabbering all day? Let's get this over with.
Rand: Yes. Well. Is everyone ready for the Last Battle? Padan Fain?
Fain: [cackling] It's nearly over, al'Thor.
Rand: Loial?
Loial: [writing in his book] I need more excitement, Rand! Are you going to blow up something else soon?
Rand: Shaidar Haran?
Shaidar Haran: What is your will, Master?
Rand: Cadsuane?
Cadsuane: I'm not getting any younger, boy.
Rand: Perrin?
Perrin: Rarf!
Rand: Moiraine?
Moiraine: Yes, I'm here, Rand.
Rand: [staring at Moiraine in disbelief] You... How...?
Moiraine: I have returned to you, Rand, to perform one final service. You'll need this. [hands Rand a small object]
Rand: What is it?
Moiraine: It's a ter'angreal, Rand.
Rand: What does it do?
Moiraine: Without this seemingly insignificant object, you have no possibility whatsoever of winning the Last Battle. You must not lose it, or all is lost.
Rand: But what is it!
Moiraine: When you channel into the ter'angreal...
Rand: Yes.
Moiraine: ...weaves of Air and Fire...
Rand: Yes, Moiraine, tell me!
Moiraine: A message lights up like this. See?
Min: What does it say, Rand?
Rand: "Go Dragon!"