The Great Hunt/Chapter 23

==Summary==
:
Nynaeve is ready for testing. Sheriam, the Mistress of Novices, takes her to the silver arches ter'angreal, and the ceremony begins. She has to pass through the arches three times to face her fears, once for the past, once for the present and once for the future. She is given a chance to refuse the testing and become a novice, but she wants to become Accepted so that she can learn at her own pace and ask questions as she desires. Once she starts the testing she must finish; if she refuses to continue, she will be expelled from the Tower without exception.
She goes through the first archway, and finds herself in a maze with no memory of her past. She only remembers an echo of Sheriam's voice, reminding her that the way out will come but once. After wandering through the maze for a while she encounters Aginor. She runs and he taunts her as he chases. Her fear changes to anger and she channels a fireball which strikes him in the chest. They begin a battle and Nynaeve is winning and close to finishing him off, but the exit arch appears. Frustrated, she abandons the battle and leaves. Sheriam tells her that she shouldn't have been able to channel in the arches and warns her not to do it again, as others who have done so have been burned out.
She goes through the second archway and sees Emond's Field in shambles. She talks to the Marin al'Vere, who says Cenn Buie is mayor, and that Bran is dead. There is a new Wisdom, Malena Aylar from Watch Hill, who bullies people into doing things and murders those who stand against her. Nynaeve and Marin plan to get the Women's Circle to stand against her but the arch appears and Nynaeve begins to remember that it is not real. Marin screams for her help but Nynaeve turns and leaves through the arch. Back outside, Nynaeve is shaken and Sheriam explains that the test presents the novice with some compelling reason to stay; she must overcome this and leave to prove that she wishes to become Aes Sedai more than anything else. Sheriam asks a final time if Nynaeve wishes to continue, knowing that the hardest test is to come. Nynaeve steels herself and runs through the third arch. 
Nynaeve finds herself in a beautiful meadow in a restored Malkier. Lan is there, and they kiss, but she doesn't want it. Lan tells her she is the queen of the Malkieri, and they have children. Nynaeve desperately wants to get out of the "dream," but begins to get caught up as if it was real. She misses the arch, but then she remembers everything - Egwene alone in the Tower, Rand likely to go mad, Matt and Perrin in trouble, and all of it is Moiraine's fault. She imagines blackthorns piercing her flesh which allows her to embrace saidar. Despite Sheriam's warning, she channels to force the arch to reappear and flees from Lan begging her to stay.
Nynaeve comes out and screams that she hates all Aes Sedai; Sheriam states that this is a common sentiment. Then Sheriam notices her palms each have one blackthorn in them; when they are removed, they leave a scar in the front and back of each hand. This confuses Sheriam greatly, but they can only finish the ceremony. Siuan and other Aes Sedai are in the chamber now to confirm her as Accepted.
==Characters==
*Nynaeve
*Sheriam Bayanar
*Silviana Brehon - as swarthy woman in red shawl
*Siuan - as Amyrlin
===In the ter'angreal===
*Aginor
*Bran
*Cenn Buie
*Nela al'Caar
*Marin al'Vere
*Egwene
*Malena Aylar
*Mavra Mallen
*Alsbet Luhhan
*Haral Luhhan
*Paet al'Caar
*Nela al'Caar
*Corin Ayellin
*Lan
*Morgase
*Sharina Melloy
*Maric Mandragoran
*Elnore Mandragoran
*Rand
*Mat
*Perrin
*Moiraine
*Lan Mandragoran
==Groups==
*Aes Sedai
*Women's Circle
===Referenced===
*Fal Dara
*Two Rivers
*Emond's Field
*Watch Hill
*Deven Ride
*Malkier
*Andor
==Items ==
*Silver arches
*Golden Crane signet ring