Battle of Falme

The Battle of Falme is fought when the Children of the Light come to liberate the town of Falme from its Seanchan invaders, hoping to put an end to the Hailene. 
The battle is also heavily influenced by agents of the Shadow being manipulated by Ishamael and Lanfear. Allies of the Dragon Reborn also end up establishing themselves as an independent fighting force during the battle.
== History ==
=== Prelude ===
Falme is conquered by the Seanchan as part of the Hailene, the preliminary expedition as part of their intended conquest of the Westlands so that they can unify all peoples under their empire in order to face the Shadow. Their return is itself part of Ishamael's manipulations, as he appeared in High Lady Suroth's court and told her that the omens showed that it was the right time for the Seanchan to make their return.
The Watchers on the Waves send word to the various nations of the Westlands of the Seanchan occupation. However, no aid comes from the various royal governments on the landmass, and the one Aes Sedai expedition seriously underestimated the threat that the Seanchan posed, with the sisters that arrived being killed, enslaved, or going into hiding. The Children of the Light also hear of the situation, and plan a larger military expedition to repel the Seanchan.
High Lady Suroth ventures further into Toman Head, conquering as far as Atuan's Mill. However, this village is too far from Falme, and it soon falls into the hands of the Whitecloaks. Suroth is reprimanded for the expedition, though this does allow her to capture Ingtar Shinowa and Loial. She delivers the Horn of Valere to High Lord Turak as a gift.
Meanwhile, the Forsaken have their own plans, as they know the Dragon Reborn is prophesized to proclaim himself at Falme. They work to bring Rand and his ta'veren friends to the town. Liandrin Guirale, an Aes Sedai of the Black Ajah, kidnaps Egwene al'Vere, Nynaeve al'Meara, and Elayne Trakand from the White Tower and brings them to Falme via the Ways. Lanfear uses the One Power to immediately bring Mat Cauthon from Cairhien, and later enters the Ways with Rand, Moiraine Damodred, and Lan Mandragoran. Moiraine Damodred and Lan Mandragoran are pushed out of a Waygate along the Toman Head coast by Lanfear, while she immediately brings Rand to Falme with the One Power.
=== Battle of Falme ===
The Whitecloaks make battle plans to storm Falme's tower within a few hours. They use children in their army to create a thick fog around the town, obscuring them from the Seanchan during their invasion. As the town is attacked, the Seanchan sul'dam bring their damane up to the tower in order to ready attacks with the One Power against the Whitecloaks.
Perrin Aybara reaches the town with Aviendha, Bain, and Chiad. They soon meet up with Loial and Ingtar Shinowa, who have the Horn of Valere in their possession, having retrieved it from High Lord Turak's possessions with the help of a "lady from Cairhien".
Rand al'Thor also begins to independently confront the Seanchan. He faces off against High Lord Turak, who notices that he has a heron-mark sword. However, Rand kills Turak and his soldiers with the One Power instead of fighting with his weapon.
Lanfear, who most likely helped Ingtar and Loial retrieve the Horn, poses as "Selene" and pays Bayle Domon to dump several cuendillar seals into the sea once the fighting is done, expecting to be rid of the other Forsaken once the fighting is over.
Ishamael meets with High Lady Suroth, who has command of Falme in the wake of Turak's death. He instructs the Darkfriend noblewoman of the Blood to have Rand shielded and eventually gentled upon his signal.
The sul'dam use the damane to launch several powerful strikes at the Whitecloaks. The sul'dam and damane in the tower are also hit by a powerful blast, just as Egwene is defying orders from Renna. Dain Bornhald is surprised about how much progress the Whitecloaks have made, while Geofram Bornhald says he trusts in the Light. He calls for the people of Falme to resist the Seanchan, with some of them taking up arms.
Nynaeve and Elayne receive information from Seta as to Egwene's whereabouts. They try to make their way to the damane, but Seta is shot by a Whitecloak crossbow and dies. Elayne is also shot in the leg, and Nynaeve stays with her for some time, unable to channel to Heal her due to her block. Nynaeve eventually uses only her Wisdom knowledge, pushing through the arrow. Elayne leans against Nynaeve as they make their way to the tower.
Atop the tower, Egwene sees a loose a'dam in the wake of sul'dam and damane deaths. She confronts Renna with a collar, and is able to use it on her own captor, having deduced that the sul'dam are also female channelers. As she is chained against the wall, Renna drops the bracelet, releasing Egwene. However, Renna still cannot breathe, and Egwene lets her die. Just as Egwene is free, Rand reaches the top of the tower and reunites with her. However, Ishamael also arrives, and uses the One Power to easily push them aside. He gives the signal to Suroth to have the sul'dam and damane aboard her ship to start shielding Rand.
Mat joins up with Perrin and his allies after freeing himself from Padan Fain's captivity. He uses the ruby-hilted dagger tied to a staff to cut the chest that the Horn of Valere is kept in, and runs to give it to Rand. Meanwhile, Perrin and Dain Bornhald both start battling the Seanchan. However, Eamon Valda sees Perrin and confronts him over an earlier encounter near Tar Valon. Hopper arrives and starts to badly maul Valda, and Geofram Bornhald responds by killing the wolf with his ax. Perrin responds by killing Bornhald, much to the shock and distress of his son, Dain.
Mat tries to reach the tower with the Horn, but is confronted by a group of the Deathwatch Guard. He finds himself having no other choice but to blow the Horn, and the Heroes arrive, with time itself being suspended to everyone other than Mat and the Heroes. Amaresu is given the Horn by Mat, and the Heroes charge forth to battle the invaders. Uno Nomesta goes to Perrin and holds off several Whitecloaks.
Mat arrives atop the tower, and launches his weapon at Ishamael. However, Ishamael was but an illusion, and when this dissipates, the dagger strikes Rand. Mat goes to his side, while Egwene uses the One Power to defend herself and her friends against Ishamael. Perrin, Nynaeve, and Elayne also reach the top of the tower while Egwene is holding off Ishamael. Elayne meets Rand for the first time, using her own channeling abilities to Heal the Dragon Reborn.
Moiraine and Lan can now see Falme, and the invading Seanchan aboard ships. Moiraine resolves to attack the ships, willing to even let potential innocents die if there is a chance at saving Rand. A company of Seanchan soldiers arrives, and Lan faces off against several while Moiraine starts to weave in order to launch fire at the ships. The ships catch fire, and the sul'dam and damane drop their shielding weaves, allowing Rand to channel once more. Rand fights Ishamael with both the One Power and his heron-mark sword, killing the Forsaken. Once the battle is over, Moiraine's weaves of Fire turn to the Falme tower, causing Rand to be proclaimed as the Dragon. Crowds cheer as a realistic dragon made of Fire spirals around the tower.
=== Aftermath ===
Lanfear returns to Ishamael's room in Falme, but is confronted by Moghedien. She learns that Ishamael in fact freed the other Forsaken before his death, suspecting Lanfear would betray him. Moghedien warns Lanfear not to interfere with the other Forsaken and their plans for the Dragon Reborn.
== Gallery ==
=== Images ===
== Changes from the book series ==
The Battle of Falme is adapted from the from the book series.
== References ==
Category:Events