Chapter 23: The Testing

Beneath the White Tower, Sheriam brings Nynaeve to a ter'angreal of three silver arches, the test for Acceptance. Sheriam warns her that some women never come back, and that once she begins she must finish.

In the first arch, Nynaeve walks naked through a stone maze and is hunted by Aginor. Anger opens her to saidar; she hurls fire and lightning, drives the Forsaken into hiding, then forces herself back through the silver arch when it appears. Sheriam tells her afterward that channeling inside the ter'angreal should have burned her ability away, and warns her not to do it again.

In the second arch, she finds Emond's Field broken under a Wisdom from Watch Hill who has poisoned Bran al'Vere and others and rules the village through fear. Marin begs her to stay and help. Nynaeve runs for the arch as Marin screams for her.

In the third arch, she stands on a hillside above Malkier restored, queen beside Lan, with three children and years of marriage waiting in her memory. The arch vanishes. To force it back she channels saidar against Sheriam's warning, drawing in so much Power it burns her, and runs through with Lan calling after her.

She comes out with two blackthorn scars in her palms. The Amyrlin Seat pours the final chalice over her head and names her Accepted of the White Tower.