Full WOT Spoilers--Ending Misgivings?

[River-Daughter]

Hello all. My first post here. I just finished the Wheel of Time. I came to it after having found Brandon's work first. I honestly struggled with aspects of this series throughout, but I'm glad that I persevered. There were some really cool story lines and characters that I loved.

I have to say though, I'm disappointed by the ending. I had a hard time with Rand having 3 girlfriends throughout the WOT. I guess I can see circumstances where that would work and I can accept that this is a fantasy world. Further, its funny because the authors did a great job of convincing me that the girls were ok with the set-up. I just never found Rand to be totally reconciled to the arrangements and that's what dampened the very end of the series for me. If he was just off on his way to travel, without pain and without the burden of the world I could be happy for him. But he has this crazy love life arrangements that will never really allow him to be free. And I'm not sure the Rand that I really admired throughout the series, the boy who admired the stability of his adopted father and that posses such a deep sense of honor, would really be ok not being present for the SIX children that were due to be born within less than a year, nor would he want to be?  

I'm trying to come up with my own "ending" beyond the end that satisfies some of these concerns. I thought I'd reach out here to the Brandon experts to see if he ever opined about what he thought happened "after the ending"? I know he is hesitant to give his opinion too freely since he reverently regard's this as Jordan's story. I just wondered for those of you deeply familiar with Brandon's writing if there is a way to use his craft to reimagine the ending so that it seems more hopeful of a truly happy ending? 

Would love to hear other opinions! 

Thanks!

[NameIess]

Brandon thinks that Rand would eventually come back, but wasn't sure:

Quote

Questioner

What happened to Rand? He's not dead?

Brandon Sanderson

So Robert Jordan wrote everything from Rand stumbling out of Shayol Ghul until the ending, with the exception of the Perrin scenes, which I added to that epilogue. Harriet says--his wife--says he sat laughing to himself as he wrote the scene with the pipe, but he did not tell her what it means.

Questioner

Pipe?

Brandon Sanderson

The pipe where he-- he lit the pipe just by thinking about it. 

Questioner

That's also something-- he's using the Tel'aran'rhiod power to light it in the real world?

Brandon Sanderson

I do not know. Now, I have my theories. I think that because Rand touched the Pattern directly, when he was doing what he was doing, that he now has influence over the Pattern. 

Questioner

So he can change and manipulate things? But he's-

Brandon Sanderson

That's what I think, but Robert Jordan didn't say, and he did write those scenes himself before he passed away. So, I wrote the actual Last Battle-

Questioner

All of it? That was so epic.

Brandon Sanderson

Yes. So he took over-- where he left was right when Rand stumbles out. The Last Battle chunk before that was me. He wrote Mat in the Tower of Ghenjei... He wrote most of Egwene in The Gathering Storm, and then little snippets of Egwene all the way through. Perrin was almost one hundred percent me; he didn't leave much on Perrin. With Rand, he wrote little chunks here and there...

So I do not know. Now, I can tell you that there in the notes that when the balefire streams, when they crossed, intertwined [Rand's] soul with Moridin's soul. And one thing that his assistant said is that the [soul] that wanted to live found the body that was going to live, and the [soul] that wanted to die found the body that was dying. And that's what happened.

Questioner

They swapped bodies because he had this thing-- Why didn't he go in and say "hey everybody?" ...He didn't want to be with his family and friends anymore?

Brandon Sanderson

I think he probably came back-- He just needed a break. I'm pretty sure that he eventually let them know, but he just needed a little time. So, but I don't know for sure.

Questioner

I thought it was super cool, going in, the chase between Slayer and Perrin.

Brandon Sanderson

I had a lot of fun with that scene.

Questioner

...Also, you told me last time I saw you, that Tel'aran'rhiod is basically-- Is that kind of where you got the idea of the parallel universe in the other books?

Brandon Sanderson

Yeah, Shadesmar. Shadesmar you can tie directly back to my love of Tel'aran'rhiod. It's kind of mixed with that in my love of some ancient Greek philosophy things that are not that important, but yeah.

Idaho Falls signing (Dec. 29, 2018)

 

[River-Daughter]

Thanks. Well, I guess that's as good as it is going to get! Clearly Robert Jordan wanted to be a bit obscure on that point. Maybe there were three girls so they would have each other in the aftermath of TG? To raise their brood and mourn together. Maybe that's what I'll go with.    They're certainly strong enough for it. 

Maybe Rand will find Ilyena on his travels? I always thought it was interesting that LLT was so motivated to get another chance to have Ilyena back but Rand doesn't seem to be as concerned about his three girlfriends as say Perrin is about Faille. Maybe their role in the pattern was to help Rand learn and grow, to love him and help him succeed? For his part, he always seemed to love ALL the women in his life without much distinction. He'll probably find love again. 

Anyway, thanks again Nameless!

[River-Daughter]

I found this from Brandon:

INTERVIEW: Jan 11th, 2013

Reddit Earlybird Q&A (Verbatim)

TIFFRANOSAURUSREX

If you had to think into the future of Randland, what do you picture the remaining heroes doing?

BRANDON SANDERSON

Well, in RJ's notes, Perrin was to be involved in the Outriggers (which would be the story of Mat and Tuon in Seanchan.) So Perrin would make his way there, eventually. (I don't know how that would have worked with Perrin's new obligations.) From here, I stray away from canon (meaning what RJ wanted) and into my own imaginings. I imagine that Rand went to see the world, becoming like Jain Farstrider. Min joined him, and they saw the world. Aviendha and Elayne spent decades, maybe centuries, leading their own people before retiring to join the other two.

TAGS

rand, perrin, outriggers, min, elayne, aviendha, the harem, mat, tuon, seanchan, fourth age,

 

Linked here: https://www.theoryland.com/intvsresults.php?kwt='the harem'

 

Don't know if this is considered a good source? You guys would know here! I think this makes sense. Except I'm wondering how long Moridin will live. I doubt as long as Aviendha and Elayne but who knows? Anyway, the whole thing feels a little hollow.

 

I'm interested in knowing what others think? Were you disappointed in that respect? If not, can you share your enthusiasm? I want a good resolution for all the characters. I quite liked all four!