Warning: Spoilers for The Wheel of Time season 3, episode 4 and The Shadow Rising
Supposedly, the Car’a’carn is destined to “destroy” the Aiel inThe Wheel of Time. Yet, the Aiel still see the Car’a’carn as the great warrior who will one day unite the clans under his leadership. Naturally, this creates some confusion over the meaning of the word “destroy” in the Aiel prophecy and what exactly it is the Car’a’carn is meant to do for them, especially since they clearly see him as a form of salvation.
As Rand has come to discover in Prime Video’s adaptation ofRobert Jordan’sWheel of Timebooks, he’s more than just the reincarnation of Lews Therin Telamon. As it would seem,Rand is both the Dragon Reborn and the Car’a’carn, which aren’t two different names for the same thing. Both titles come with different prophecies, and Rand is expected to fulfill both of them as the story continues to play out. In both cases, there’s some rather mysterious language that doesn’t make his roles altogether clear. The Prophecy of Rhuidean’s line, “he will take you back and he will destroy you” perfectly exemplifies this.
Image via Prime Video
This particular aspect of the prophecy fromtheWheel of Timebookswas repeated in the show, but the exact meaning has not been clarified. However, the answer can be gleaned from what happens in the show. InThe Shadow Rising, Rand discovers a startling secret about the Aiel’s history when he experiences the memories of his ancestors in the glass columns of Rhudiean. One of the things he stumbles upon is the hidden connection between the Aiel and the Tuatha’an. Centuries ago, the Aiel weren’t regarded as warriors; rather, they were nomads who followed a pacifistic lifestyle called “the Way of the Leaf.”
The Aiel’s predictions regarding the Car’a’carn stem from an ancient legend of their people known as the Prophecy of Rhuidean.
Over time, the Aiel changed and forgot this important chapter in this history. However, they did know of the Way of the Leaf, due to a traveling group known as the Tuatha’an. They held great disdain for the Tuatha’an and refused to associate with them due to the deep divide between their two cultures. For this reason, the Aiel were dismayed when they learned from Rand that their ancestors - the Dai’shan Aiel - followed the Way of the Leaf themselves. In fact, the Tuatha’an are directly related to them, in that they branched off from the Aiel long ago.
Through the eyes of Lewin, Rand witnessed the Aiel as they were followers of the Way of the Leaf. He understood from this experience in the glass columns that the Aiel split when some of their own retaliated after a killing and were subsequently cast out of the group. Later on,Rand shared this discovery with the Aiel, upsetting them greatly with this revelation about their past. He sets in motion a huge change in perspective, and in doing so, completes the part of the prophecy that calls for him to “destroy” the Aiel.
Why The Aiel Don’t Know The Truth About Their Origins
Some Aiel Did Know, But Deliberately Hid The Truth
The Aiel’s time living as nomads devoted to maintaining peace whatever the cost is obviously at odds with everything they believe in, and therefore makes it all the more surprising that this chapter of their history is somehow unknown to them. However, it’s important to note that their connection to the Way of the Leaf was never completely forgotten. Rather, it’s simply the people who aren’t aware; this knowledge was passed down to select members of their society, such as the Wise Ones and the clan chiefs.
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Understanding the damage these facts could do to their people,the Wise Ones and the clan chiefs intentionally concealed this period in their history. Countless men died trying to pass throughRhuidean’s glass columnsdue largely to the shame of knowing the truth being too much to bear. After all, this effectively made them as a people something they all loathe: “oathbreakers.” This illustrates the reason why certain members of the clans would take it upon themselves to protect their people by keeping their old ways a secret.
Thanks to the knowledge Rand gained inThe Wheel of Timeseason 3, episode 4, he’s now in a position to push the Aiel another step closer to accepting him as the Car’a’carn. Their ancestors' adherence to the Way of the Leaf, made clear by Rand’s memory of Lewin in the episode, breaks the Aiel in the book, and should have a similar impact on their society in the TV series. After all, the Way of the Leaf clashes with their entire worldview and warrior-like culture.
It’s understood in the books that “the bleakness” saw many among Aiel lose faith in their own beliefs, depart their clans, and in some cases, take up what they once would have seen as a reprehensible lifestyle, the Way of the Leaf.
Interestingly, the effect that Rand has on the Aiel when he reveals the truth has an in-universe name: “the bleakness.” It’s understood in the books that “the bleakness” saw many among Aiel lose faith in their own beliefs, depart their clans, and in some cases, take up what they once would have seen as a reprehensible lifestyle, the Way of the Leaf. This drove away a great deal of potential warriors for Rand’s Aiel army, but tested the resolve of those who stayed and likely made them stronger for it.
This realization, as crushing as it may be, should provide the push the various Aiel clans need to put aside their differences and follow Rand inThe Wheel of Timeseason 3’s remaining episodes; otherwise, their pride in their history and culture will always serve as an obstacle. This fact makes the visions Rand experienced in Rhuidean crucial to his fulfillment of the Car’a’carn prophecy - and in turn, the Dragon Reborn prophecy. It too references what Rand must do to the Aiel, via the telling line, “He shall slay his people with the sword of peace, and destroy them with the leaf.”
The Wheel of Time
Cast
The Wheel of Time follows Moiraine, a member of the powerful all-female organization Aes Sedai, as she leads a perilous quest with five young individuals. Moiraine suspects one among them could be the prophesized reincarnation of a mighty figure destined to either save or doom humanity.
