The Dragon Reborn/Chapter 56

==Summary==
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The people of Tear awaken from dreams of the Dragon battling Ba'alzamon in the Heart of the Stone. They are startled to find the Dragon Banner now flying over the Stone of Tear. They proclaim Rand al'Thor as the Dragon. 
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Mat sees the people outside proclaiming Rand as the Dragon. He remembers the fighting in the Stone of Tear, along with Rand wielding Callandor. He has not been able to get close to Rand who is now constantly surrounded by Aiel, the remaining High Lords, and Defenders of the Stone. There are now almost two hundred Aiel in the Stone. Although about one hundred fell in combat, they killed or captured ten times as many Defenders. Mat is in the High Lords' meeting room with Elayne, Egwene, Nynaeve, Rhuarc and Moiraine. They are surrounded by bookshelves and Rhuarc is reading one of the books. Mat is surprised that the Aiel is interested in books.
Moiraine tells them that Perrin is also in the city along with a "companion" who is in considerable danger and Perrin may be also. She will return to see to Faile but first she must show them an intact Seal that she found. Three others have been found but broken. They have been lost since the Trolloc Wars, but have now started to appear again. Moiraine notes that every time Rand confronted Ba'alzamon a Seal was nearby. Mat wants to understand how things happened as they did. The Prophecies of the Dragon say that the Stone would only fall when the People of the Dragon come. Does that mean the few of them are the People of the Dragon? Moiraine says it is possible, as prophecies are often not fulfilled as expected. Rhuarc then steps forward and shows them the dragon on his left arm, and tells them about how the clan chiefs get that mark in Rhuidean. Moiraine is stunned to realize that the Aiel are the People of the Dragon.
Mat believes Rand killed the Dark One last night and that the Last Battle is over and won. Moiraine says that the Dark One is not dead, as the one who was killed left a body and the Dark One would not. Everyone else is confused by this, even Rhuarc; evidently they had all thought as Mat did. Egwene recalls the parchment that Verin was reading which connected Ba'alzamon with Ishamael. Moiraine agrees that Ba'alzamon may have been Ishamael. If so, there are still nine other Forsaken left and with three of the Seven Seals broken, only four are left to hold the Dark One's prison intact.
Berelain, the First of Mayene, walks into the room and gives Moiraine a note, saying that it was given to her by an impressive woman. She is not sure why she is carrying the message since it is not something she normally does. After this realization, she gives herself a shake and recovers her bearings.Lanfear must have used Compulsion on her. She tells everyone to inform Rand that she will be dining with the Lord Dragon tonight. Berelain looks at Rhuarc whom she has determined is the leader of the Aiel expedition and says she will dine with him also in the near future.
After Berelain leaves, Moiraine reads the note which is written by Lanfear. It says that Lews Therin is hers and always has been, but that she delivers him into Moiraine's custody for safekeeping until she returns to claim him. Moiraine reiterates to Mat there is still much to come as evidenced by the letter; he is ta'veren as well as the sounder of the Horn of Valere and will be an important part of it all. The others all look at him with varied expressions, having now learned his importance. Even Rhuarc seems to have a certain respect in his eyes. Mat reassures Moiraine that he will do what needs to be done while mentally preparing to flee. He wonders if Thom has recovered from his sickness yet; maybe Perrin will be willing to leave with them.
==Characters==
*Mat Cauthon
*Moiraine Damodred
*Egwene al'Vere
*Nynaeve al'Meara
*Elayne Trakand
*Rhuarc
*Berelain sur Paendrag Paeron
===Referenced===
*Rand al'Thor
*Ba'alzamon/Ishamael
*Aviendha
*Bain
*Chiad
*Perrin Aybara
*Lan Mandragoran
*Be'lal
*Juilin Sandar
*Ailhuin Guenna
*Siuan Sanche - as Amyrlin
*Amico Nagoyin
*Joiya Byir
*Liandrin
*Dark One
*Verin Mathwin
*Lanfear
*Sammael
*Rahvin
*Lews Therin
*Thom Merrilin
==Groups==
*Aiel
*Ta'veren
===Referenced===
*Jenn Aiel
*High Lords of Tear
*Black Ajah
*Forsaken
==Places==
*Stone of Tear
===Referenced===
*Rhuidean
*Mayene
*Shayol Ghul
==Events==
===Referenced===
*The Fall of the Stone of Tear
==Items==
*Seven Seals
*Dragon Banner
===Referenced===
*Callandor
*Horn of Valere