This article contains spoilers for The Wheel of Time season 3, episode 4. the Forsaken and the Dark One had he not come to them first.

As the Aes Sedai - will allow him to experience visions of the past. This experience is a transformative one for any Aiel, for it reveals the shameful origin of their people, glimpsed through the eyes of their ancestors. In narrative , this is a smart way of "showing, not telling" - revealing secrets of the ancient past in a visual form. So what did we learn?

The Wheel of Time may have switched the order of events, but everything described here is true to Robert Jordan's original novels.

The Aiel Once Followed The Way Of The Leaf

Previous seasons of The Wheel of the Time introduced a pacifist group known as the Tinkers, who followed an ancient philosophy called the Way of the Leaf. Inspired by the peaceful fall of a leaf, this forbids violence and the use of force. As he walks through the glass columns, Rand learns that the ancient Aiel were people of the soil who followed the Way of the Leaf. They were led by Lews Therin, although it must be noted he doesn't personally seem to have followed the Way of the Leaf.

This, incidentally, is why the Aiel are known as the "People of the Dragon." It is not because they are destined to follow Rand al'Thor; rather, it is because they followed the first Dragon, Lews Therin himself. Still, their fates clearly remain bound to Rand's own.

The Aiel Broke Their Oath To The Aes Sedai

Nearly three thousand years ago, the Aes Sedai entrusted the Aiel with a seed of Avendesora, the fabled tree of life. In response, the Aiel swore an oath to remain true to the Way of the Leaf for all time, as they traveled to the Aiel Wastes to establish a city where they would plant the sapling. Tragically, the hardships of the journey proved too difficult for the Aiel, who gradually turned away from their oath and abandoned pacifism.

The Wheel of Time goes to great lengths to help viewers understand why the Aiel broke their oath. Their journey took generations, but their numbers were gradually depleting due to bandit attacks, and their pacifism meant they were unable to defend themselves. These ancient Aiel came to hold the Way of the Leaf in contempt, disgusted with those who chose death rather than protecting themselves from aggression.

The Aes Sedai Created The Glass Columns As A Judgment On The Aiel

The Aiel eventually settled in the Aiel Waste, a harsh environment where they further devolved into violence and brutality. They began to build a city of their own, Rhuidean, but were approached by the Aes Sedai named Latra - the one who had sent them on their quest generations ago. She created the glass columns of Rhuidean as a judgment upon them, because any Aiel who walked between the columns would learn the shame of their history.

The Aiel retreated from the city of Rhuidean, abandoning it because they could not live with the shameful truth. Their leaders and Wise Ones were the only Aiel entrusted with this knowledge; they would prove themselves by entering Rhuidean and walking between the columns, receiving the visions and discovering the truth. The experience is too much for any Aiel, with only a third surviving the experience. Rand saw one Aiel who had physically torn his eyes out in grief.

Why The Aiel War Really Happened

The Wheel of Time uses the glass columns to explore the history of the Aiel, but there are also important comments from Moiraine that explain a lot as well. She reveals that, centuries ago, the Aiel entrusted another sapling of Avendesora to her people at Cairhien. This was meant to be a symbol of peace; but when Moiraine's uncle became king, he cut the tree down so he could have an irreplaceable throne.

This is the reason the Aiel War began, and it only came to an end when Rand's own father Janduin killed Moiraine's uncle on the slopes of Dragonmount. Rand's mother died in the battle - as already seen in previous flashbacks - but her newborn baby was taken by Tam al'Thor. Rand's story is complete, and he finally understands his own personal origin, as well as those of the Aiel.

What Is The Car'a'carn?

Rand al'Thor is not only the Dragon Reborn; he is also the Car'a'carn, the one whose coming was foretold by Latra Sedai in what is known as the Prophecy of Rhuidean. The Chief of Chiefs, he will reunite the scattered Aiel tribes, forcing them to work together at last. He is destined to lead the People of the Dragon out of the Aiel Waste, where they will battle at the Stone of Tear, and ultimately side with him in the Last Battle. This is the redemption of the Aiel, but it will also be their destruction.

We can already see how clearly Rand fulfills the prophecy of the Car'a'carn. Though he is of Aiel blood, he was brought up in the west, far from the People of the Dragon. He does not know their ways, and thus he is not truly one of them; he is more of a stranger who shares their blood than anything else. Most ominously for the Aiel, he now knows the secret of their history - knowledge that would destroy the Aiel were it revealed to all.

The Aiel as we know them were created when they broke an oath. Now, their redemption lies in another oath; one of fealty to the Dragon Reborn. The Wheel of Time season 4 has turned Robert Jordan's story on its head, sending Rand to the Aiel Waste before he goes to the Stone of Tear, and no doubt events will continue to play out rather differently.