Two men run through a dramatic landscape, pursued by a group of Aes Sedai on horseback.}

[Man1] Hurry up!

[Various Aes Sedai] Hyah! Hyah! Hyah!

[Liandrin] Stop!

{The men near a narrow gap in a rock cliff.}

[Liandrin] I said stop!

{Liandrin channels to destroy the gap in the cliff and trap the men.}

[Man1] We can't die like this. You can fight them. Use it.

[Man2] Don't hurt him. It's not his fault.

[Liandrin] Who are you talking about? There's one else here.

{Man2 turns to look at his companion, but he is no longer there.}

[Liandrin] The madness already has him.

You see, what we've come here to do... it's a gift. You should thank me, really. This Power... it's meant for women... and women alone. And when you touch it... you make it filthy.

[Man] Please. No. Please.

[Liandrin] Sisters.

[Man] Please, no. No! Please!

{Liandrin starts to channel and the man screams.}

≿————-　❈　————-≾

{Moiraine and Lan observe from above.}

[Moiraine] It's not him.

[Lan] He was born 20 years ago, almost to the day the prophecy of the Dragon Reborn predicted. He's able to touch the Source.

[Moiraine] It's not him.

[Lan] Where next?

[Moiraine] The Two Rivers. There are rumors of four ta'veren there, all the right age. The Old Blood runs deep in those mountains. Let's hope it's prepared them for what's coming.

[Lan] is Elena joining us?

[Moiraine] She's as wild as the wolves, not even the great mother can tame that girl

{Moiraine and Lan leave on horseback, riding through a dramatic karst filled landscape.}

≿————-　❈　————-≾

}

[Nynaeve] This braid will remind you that you are a part of us and we a part of you. To be a woman is to be always alone and never alone. So when the Dark surrounds you and you see no Light, feel this braid and know that we all stood before you. We all stand with you.

{Everyone stands up.}

As Wisdom of the Two Rivers, it's my honor to welcome you to the Women's Circle. Be strong, Egwene. Trust the river.

{Nynaeve shoves Egwene off the cliff, and she falls into the river below.}

She is swept downstream and struggles with the current until she eventually surrenders to the flow and floats peacefully for awhile.}

{Egwene floats to a shallow area and exits the river. She lays on the ground panting and holding onto at her braid.}

≿————-　❈　————-≾

Rand and Tam travel down the Quarry road with Bela.}

[Tam] I remember when this road was just a little deer path, winding down the mountain.

[Rand] How'd you get the wool to town?

[Tam] Carried it.

[Rand] And the brandy?

[Tam] That stayed home. Your mother could drink.

{Some rocks tumble down a nearby cliff and Rand draws his bow. Wolves howl in the distance.}

[Rand] More wolves now.

[Tam] Something's been pushing them down from the mountain.

{Rand lowers his bow and begins to clear the rocks from the road.}

[Tam] When you were just tiny, we'd let you out in these woods alone to look for berries. You'd always save a basket of them in the barn to take to Egwene.

[Rand] Sounds like I used to be a real sap.

≿————-　❈　————-≾

In the village, Tam and Bran unload barrels of brand and take them into the Winespring Inn. The Inn is crowded with people enjoying themselves.}

[Bran] The Coplins and Congars were worried we might be without apple brandy this Bel Tine.

[Tam] Wouldn't want them to remember a minute of it.

{Mat stands next to a table where Rand, Perrin, and others are seated.}

[Mat] Right. Gentlemen... and lady. I want to thank you all very much for bearing with me tonight. Can't imagine it's been easy to part with all your money, but...

{Mat rolls the dice and they are revealed to be 1, 1, 1, and 3. Mat looks disappointed.}

[Danya] You'll get 'em next time, Mat.

{Danya takes the money from the table.}

[Mat] Next time? How about right now? Eh? Anyone?

[Rand] You don't have anything left to bet. Come on. Sit down.

{Everyone leaves the table except for Rand, Perrin, and Mat.}

[Rand] How are you? How're the girls?

[Mat] You can spot me. One game, three of us. Old time's sake, eh?

[Perrin] Come on. We're talking.

[Mat] About what? You're married, your life's over. And Rand's pining over Egwene, cold in the mountains, only the sheep to keep him warm.

[Perrin] Did you hear already?

[Rand] Hear what?

[Perrin] A few folks went down to Taren Ferry with the wool last week. Town was full of soldiers and mercenaries headed south.

[Rand] Why?

[Perrin] They said there's a war in Ghealdan.

[Mat] In Ghealdan? Who cares? It was Callie Coplin told you that, wasn't it?

[Perrin] So?

[Mat] She'd piss in your mouth and tell you it was raining.

[Mat] So, come on. Let's play.

{Mat picks up the dice cup and rattles it.}

[Mat] No?

[Rand] No.

[Mat] No? Okay, fine. Enough of you guys.

{Mat looks at Danya standing nearby, then stands up and starts to walk towards her.}

[Mat] Danya.

[Perrin] How much money did he lose today?

[Rand] I lost count, but it was more than enough.

≿————-　❈　————-≾

Egwene enters the Winespring Inn as everyone claps and cheers.}

[Bran] My girl. You're back. I was worried that... Come on, then. We're losing a coin for every empty hand here.

[Daise] No. You drink with us tonight. Marin! A drink for your daughter!

[Various People] Cheers, everybody. Hey. Cheers!

{Scene 08 (11:04) - A storm rolls into the area. Perrin and Rand talk in a corner of the Winespring Inn.}

[Perrin] How did her ceremony go today?

[Rand] I don't know, actually. We, uh... We haven't talked yet.

[Perrin] I'm sure she's just busy.

[Rand] Yeah, yeah. I'm sure.

≿————-　❈　————-≾

{A hooded stranger enters the Winespring Inn.}

[Nynaeve] Name yourself, stranger.

[Lan] Lan Mandragoran. This is Moiraine.

[Marin] Milady, can I help you?

[Moiraine] We'll need stables for our horses and a room for the night. Two beds and fresh linen. That's all we need.

[Marin] Of course, Moiraine Sedai.

If you'll come this way.

{Perrin and Rand continue to talk in the corner.}

[Perrin] She looks like a normal person. I don't know, I...

[Rand] Quiet. Who knows what she can hear? Maybe she's headed to the war in the south? In the stories, they say one Aes Sedai can turn a battle on her own.

[Nynaeve] I don't care where she's going to, but we'll all be happier and safer when she's there. Where's Laila?

Probably at the forge. Iron's hard to work alone.

[Perrin] Give Egwene my best.

≿————-　❈　————-≾

[Perrin] What are you doing in here? Everyone is at the inn. They said you didn't even go to her ceremony.

{Laila stops working and Perrin holds her.}

[Perrin] I love you.

[Laila] I know.

≿————-　❈　————-≾

{Mat walks around the village and finds his mother, who appears to be drunk.}

[Mat] Mum? Mum, what are you doing here?

[Natti] Same thing as anyone else.

[Mat] Where's Dad?

{Natti nods towards Abell who is standing nearby talking to a woman.}

[Natti] Right where the whole town could see him. The prick.

[Mat] Who's with the girls?

[Natti] That pig!

{Nattie begins to run towards Abell, but Mat grabs her.}

[Mat] Come on. Time to go home, Mum.

[Natti] I will go wherever I want.

[Mat] Please.

≿————-　❈　————-≾

{Mat enters his house dragging Natti and puts her on a bed. Mat's sisters are playing with dolls.}

[Bode] How are you?

[Eldrin] Matty, is Mum sick again?

[Natti] I'm fine, you little bi...

[Mat] She's all right. Don't worry.

[Natti] You're going to be just like your dad. I know it. Damn prick like him.

[Mat] Hey. How about you two sleep with me tonight, instead of Mum and Dad?

{Bode and Eldrin both nod.}

[Mat] Yeah? Cheers. Come on, then.

≿————-　❈　————-≾

{At the mostly empty Winespring Inn, Marin, Egwene, Rand, Bran, and Tam clean up.}

[Marin] A thousand wars have washed over the lands down-mountain, and Two Rivers folk don't have any more need to pay attention now than before. War is just fools killing other fools for foolish causes.

[Tam] Aes Sedai don't fight wars. They pull the strings of the world from their White Tower. And if one of them's here...

[Bran] Then she'll enjoy Bel Tine tomorrow like the rest of us.

[Marin] Rand, Egwene, why don't you two finish up the dishes?

[Egwene] Of course.

{Marin, Bran, and Tam leave the room.}

[Rand] You've been avoiding me.

[Egwene] Or biding my time until I could get you alone?

[Rand] How'd it go today?

[Egwene] You know I can't talk about...

[Rand] It's me. You can at least say if it was good or bad.

[Egwene] It was... good.

I'm sorry, it's just... I'm thinking about something that Nynaeve...

{Rand embraces Egwene and kisses her passionately.}

[Rand] You know... my dad said I used to pick baskets of berries to bring to you when I was a kid. Like some lovesick puppy.

[Egwene] Mm. Sounds sweet to me.

{Rand takes a strawberry out of his pocket.}

[Egwene] Has that been in your pocket all day?

[Rand] Maybe.

[Egwene] Come here.

{Rand and Egwene embrace even tighter and kiss each other passionately.}

≿————-　❈　————-≾

In their room at the Winespring Inn, Lan enters a large bathtub with Moiraine.}

[Lan] It could be warmer.

[Moiraine] I'm impressed they have this at all.

[Lan] It could be warmer.

{Moiraine channels to warm up the water.}

[Moiraine] Better?

[Lan] Much.

{Moiraine sighs and looks contemplative.}

[Lan] What is it? You think it's one of them? Which one?

≿————-　❈　————-≾

A half-naked Egwene stares at the fireplace. Rand walks in shirtless and sits down.}

[Rand] You let me fall asleep.

[Egwene] You act as if I had some say in the matter.

[Rand] What happened out there today?

[Egwene] It wasn't today. It was before. Nynaeve. She asked me to become her apprentice, to study to be a Wisdom someday.

[Rand] What? No, you...

[Egwene] She asked. I didn't say yes or no.

[Rand] Really?

[Egwene] She thinks I'll be able to listen to the wind if I work with her.

[Rand] It's a lonely life, being a Wisdom. No husband. No kids.

I should get up to bed.

{Rand stands up and walks away.}

[Egwene] Rand.

{Egwene seems to sense something and looks concerned.}

≿————-　❈　————-≾

{A Myrddraal rides into the village on a horse}

≿————-　❈　————-≾

{Padan Fain whistles as he rides into town. A group of excited children run towards his wagon.}

[Padan] Merry Bel Tine! Merry Bel Tine!

No. No sweet sticks for you.

≿————-　❈　————-≾

{Egwene serves Tam breakfast on the Green.}

[Egwene] Too early for breakfast?

[Tam] Never too early for your mum's bread.

{Egwene looks around.}

[Tam] He left before I woke.

≿————-　❈　————-≾

{Perrin and Laila lay in bed and she holds his pinky.}

≿————-　❈　————-≾

{Padain Fain stands by his wagon with wares displayed. Mat approaches.}

[Padan] Mat Cauthon. My best and poorest customer.

[Mat] Seems like I'm your only customer.

{They walk to the side of the wagon and Padan looks around to make sure nobody is nearby.}

[Padan] So, what do you have for me this year?

{Mat shows him a bracelet that Danya was wearing the night before. Padan takes the bracelet and bites it.}

[Padan] Oh. Oh, dear. Not real gold, sadly.

[Mat] Yes, it is. It's worth three marks, at least.

[Padan] Mm. Possibly. But will I be able to sell it here in town?

{Mat looks down and scoffs.}

[Padan] I'll give you one mark.

[Mat] Two.

[Padan] Half a mark. That will get you three lanterns, and you'll be lucky to have 'em.

{Padan hands Mat a few lanterns.}

[Mat] You're a right bastard, Padan Fain.

[Padan] Pleasure as always.

≿————-　❈　————-≾

{Moiraine and Lan talk on the Green.}

[Moiraine] You didn't sleep last night. You think one of the Eyeless is already here?

Then we both have work to do today.

≿————-　❈　————-≾

{Rand and Egwene talk amid a mountainous landscape.}

[Egwene] Thought you might be here.

[Rand] When I come up here... you know what I wonder about? I wonder about my life here. In the Two Rivers. About the house I'll build. The wife I'll have. About my kids running through these woods, just like I did.

[Egwene] I'm going to...

[Rand] I know. I already know.

≿————-　❈　————-≾

{Nynaeve cleans a pool in the Women's Circle cave. Moiraine enters.}

[Moiraine] They call you a leader in this town, Wisdom, and here you are, cleaning.

[Nynaeve] This pool is sacred. It's an honor to clean it. What are you doing here?

[Moiraine] I wanted to walk.

[Nynaeve] In the Two Rivers.

[Moiraine] I could ask the same of you. You're not from here, are you?

The old Wisdom brought you here when you were a baby... a baby whose parents passed. But no one can remember exactly when. That's the thing about these little towns, no one keeps records of anything. Births, deaths...

[Nynaeve] It doesn't mean we don't remember.

That old Wisdom... the woman who raised me... When she was only 13, she realized she could listen to the wind, and she went to the White Tower. She walked. From here. It took her months. And when she got there, your sisters took one look at her ragged clothes, her peasant accent, and they turned her away. She was small and from a little town, but she remembered. Until the day she died. So do I.

[Moiraine] See, people say you're too young to be the Wisdom, and I disagree. I think you're strong, even if you have only had that braid for, what... what, a year or two?

{Nynaeve looks angry and throws down her cleaning rag while exiting the pool.}

[Nynaeve] I've had it for five.

[Moiraine] So that makes you 25... 26.

[Nynaeve] That doesn't mean I can't do my job. And whatever you may think, that is to protect this town. From you, if I have to. Enjoy your walk.

≿————-　❈　————-≾

{Mat, Rand, and Perrin drink beers at a bench on the Green.}

[Mat] Cheers, boys. Made it through another year of this shite.

All right. Out with it.

[Perrin] Out with what?

[Rand] Nothing.

[Mat] Bollocks. Something happened with Egwene.

[Perrin] What happened?

{Rand looks upset and doesn't say anything.}

[Mat] That bad, was it?

≿————-　❈　————-≾

{Egwene and Nynaeve stand on a bridge listening to the wind.}

[Nynaeve] Do you hear that?

{The wind blows strongly and sounds of ominous whispering voices.}

[Egwene] It sounds... wrong. What does it mean?

[Nynaeve] I don't know. I've never heard anything like it.

≿————-　❈　————-≾

{Lan inspects dead sheep arranged in the shape of the Dragon's Fang}

≿————-　❈　————-≾

{Mat, Rand, and Perrin continue to chat on the Green.}

[Perrin] Mat, we noticed your luck wasn't really with you last night. So Rand and I chipped in.

{Perrin puts some coins in front of Mat.}

[Perrin] To buy some lanterns for the girls.

[Mat] We'll be all right.

{Mat pushes the coins towards Perrin, but Perrin pushes them back and Mat takes them.}

[Mat] Thank you.

[Rand] All right. I should get home.

{Rand stands up and starts to walk away.}

[Mat] Don't stay up-mountain too long.

[Rand] I won't.

≿————-　❈　————-≾

{Tam and Rand arrive home. Inside the house, Tam prepares a lantern while they talk.}

[Rand] Maybe we should be at Bel Tine. To light a candle for her.

[Tam] Whole point is to help guide her spirit back to us. Doesn't matter where we are when we do it, really.

{They walk outside and Tam hangs up the lantern.}

[Rand] How long does it take before the Wheel of Time turns someone's spirit back into the world again?

[Tam] Wish I knew. But I'm sure there's a reason no one can remember their previous lives.

{Tam lights the lantern with a match (scenes from the village lantern ceremony are intercut with Tam's dialogue).}

[Tam] All we can do is the best we can with the life that's given to us. And take comfort from it. That no matter what happens, what... pain we face... what heartbreak... even death... the Wheel keeps turning. Always. And we try again. Maybe do a little better than the last time.

≿————-　❈　————-≾

{The village lantern ceremony continues.
Nynaeve cries.
Egwene sees Moiraine watching the ceremony from nearby}

≿————-　❈　————-≾

{The villagers gather for the festivities on the Green.}

[Marin] Come on, now. If we want our loved ones' souls to make their way back here, we'd best show them something worth coming back for.

{The music starts and people begin to dance. Egwene laughs and pulls Perrin and Laila onto the dance floor.}

[Egwene] Come on.

≿————-　❈　————-≾

{In the forest, Lan approaches Moiraine.}

[Lan] The Fade has Trollocs with it. Dozens. We need to leave. Now.

Do you know which one of them it is?

[Moiraine] No.

≿————-　❈　————-≾

{The villagers continue to dance on the Green.}

{Tom is hit from behind by some sort of axe.}

[Egwene] Tom? Tom, what's wro...

{Tom falls to the ground and Egwene gasps. A Trolloc suddenly appears and roars. Chaos ensues as more Trollocs atack.}

{Nynaeve grabs Egwene takes her nearby to hide.}

[Egwene] Aah!

[Nynaeve] Get down.

[Egwene] Nynaeve, what's happening? What are they?

{Perrin and Laila run into the forge along with another villager trying to escape the Trollocs.}

[Perrin] Quick, quick!

{Perrin and Laila shut the door.}

[Perrin] Who are they?

{Padain Fain smiles from the