The Wheel of Time

Are they ready?

They'll have to be, won't they?

You and I walk this path together.

We've never walked this path together.

I swore myself to you because I trusted you.

You failed me.

Alanna will see you to the Tower.

What do you want from me?

I don't want to hurt you.

You can't.

Logain Ablar,

you will serve as an example

to all men who dare to channel.

There she is.

You've heard of the Arches?

The trial novices go through to become Accepted?

Is she ready?

She is ready to leave behind what she was...

She could die in the Arches. Many have before her.

Does she know what she fears?

She has never faced them...

Nynaeve!

...but now is willing.

The hour waits for no woman.

What are they?

Ter'angreal.

- What do they do? - Many things, child.

They are from before the Breaking,

made during a time when women could create objects

from the One Power itself.

Some ter'angreal

are made to work by Aes Sedai, like this one.

Others do what they do

simply with the presence of any woman who can channel.

We don't know why they were made.

Most, we've learned at great cost to avoid.

Many Aes Sedai have been killed or burned out, learning that.

And you want me to just walk through them?

We know what this one does.

It will bring you face-to-face with your greatest fears,

and what those fears are, are for you to know.

And you need to tell no more than you wish.

So... what?

I just walk through one arch and out again?

Three times through, and it's done?

If you wish to boil it down that far...

yes.

Two things we will tell you

now that no woman hears until she is in this room.

The first: once you begin,

you must continue to the end.

Refuse to go on,

and you will be put out of the Tower

with enough silver to support you for a year.

But you will never be allowed back.

Second:

to seek, to strive, is to know danger,

and you will know danger here.

Some women have entered, and never come out.

This is your last chance, child.

You may turn back now, right now,

and you'll only have one mark against you.

Twice more you'll be allowed to come here,

and only on the third refusal will you be put

out of the Tower.

I myself could not do it the first time here.

If you are doing this for someone else,

you will fail.

Do this for you.

Or not at all.

I'm ready.

Your dress.

Whatever awaits you,

you must face it with nothing but your wits.

Not even the One Power will be available to you

inside the Arches.

The way back will come but once.

There you are.

Dad.

Where did you get those?

I don't know.

I don't remember how I got here...

You have to be careful, sweetheart.

Herbs can be dangerous.

There. That should do it.

Don't forget.

Crimsonthorn roots are poisonous.

Remember, red is dead.

What is that?

- Dad! -

Take them down!

No!

No!

Mum!

- Nynaeve, you're hurt. - Elnore!

- Come on. - Run.

Go on.

The cellar.

I need you to be

a brave girl now. Whatever happens,

you have to be very quiet and stay down here.

I can help you, Dad.

We shall go into the land...

...so our children can always hold us...

...and will never be alone.

- -

Beerien!

Wait, Dad!

The way back will come but once...

Mum!

Come here!

You are washed clean of your sins.

And the sins committed against you.

You come to us pure, in heart and soul.

It was so real...

- Was it real? - No one knows.

Some come out

bearing the actual wounds taken inside.

Others are cut to the bone inside

and come back without a mark.

If I save them, would it change things?

Once you begin you must continue.

The way back will come but once.

- -

Nynaeve?

Tam.

What's wrong? What's happening here?

A fever.

It spread through the Two Rivers after you left.

Who gave you these herbs?

The Wisdom.

Natti Cauthon?

Why does Tam call you Wisdom?

You've been gone a long time, Nynaeve.

- You don't understand what these herbs can do. - You abandoned us.

I may not be a Wisdom, but I'm the one who stayed.

It's a painless death.

The Aes Sedai can heal this.

They can heal anything short of death. I've... I've seen it.

The Amyrlin will...

We wrote to your Amyrlin Seat months ago.

You're the first "sister" I've seen.

There has to be another way.

- We can't... - Don't judge me, girl.

Your job was to protect us, and you left us.

If you can heal them, then do it.

Otherwise, go back to your Tower.

This isn't your home anymore.

You're going to be all right.

It's all right.

- - It's good to see your face.

You've been missed.

I'm sorry.

How is Rand?

Is he happy?

He is.

Thank you for keeping him safe.

Will you stay with me until the herbs have done their work?

I can't tell you what a comfort it is to see your face.

The way back will come but once.

- Nynaeve? - I'm coming back, all right?

Please don't go.

I promise you. I'm coming back.

Nynaeve. Nynaeve!

You are washed clean of your sins.

- And the sins... - No!

No! We need to go.

Please. To the Two Rivers. There's a plague there.

Something we could all fix.

Every woman's fears are her own property.

Do not burden us with them.

You are washed clean of your sins.

And the sins committed against you.

- You come to us... - We need to go. Please.

Once you begin, you must continue.

- - The way back

will come but once.