What was the meaning of the "candles" prophecy?

Question

In Clerres, one of the most common prophecies regarding the advent of the Destroyer is know as the "candle prophecy". Here is the version that Bee Farseer dreamed about:

I dream it as a vine that splits into two branches. On one branch there are four candles growing. One by one they are kindled to flame, but their light does not illuminate. Instead, a crow says, ‘Here are four candles to light you to bed. Four candles lit means their child is dead. Four candles burn for the end of their ways. The Wolf and the jester have wasted their days.’ Then, on the other branch of the vine, three candles are suddenly kindled. Their light is almost blinding. And the same crow says, ‘Three flames burn brighter than the sun. Their blaze engulfs an evil done. Their angry mourning purpose gives. They do not know their child still lives.’ Then the crow suddenly has a broken candle. She drops it and I catch it. In a slow and frightening voice she says, ‘Child, light the fire. Burn the future and the past. It’s what you were born to do.’

We know, that the candles are the last four candles made by Molly that Fitz kept for sentimental purposes and that he lost one of the candles when his camp was attacked by bear. Later Bee finds the broken candle and takes it with her to Clerres where

she uses it to set the library on fire.

But I don't understand, why the prophecy says that "Four candles lit means their child is dead" - Bee could do what she done using something else (in fact, the candle was used only as a delay mechanism).

Let me clarify a bit: I'm looking for a cause-effect kind of explanation. If for example there was a prophecy "If you'd go left, you'll die" and on the "sure death" patch there is a dragon, evil witch or simply thunderstorm, then you'd be kill by a monster, spell or lightning, not a prophecy.

Answer 1

Regarding the candles and Bee’s survival. I have considered it like this: in one line Fitz finds the 4 candles and take them. In this line Bee dies.

In the other line, Fitz finds only three, leading to Bee finding one. Thinking on the number of days they are at the site, I belive the forgotten candle will be found by Bee. The candle makes a nexus. So why does the candle make Bee live? Every time she is close to giving up, she smells the candle and finds strength from the memories of her mother and her past life. Living through abuse and slavery is hard. The candle also give her something only for her; a touchstone and a small rebellion to keep sane and strong. A personal item can make a difference. So without it she would have lost hope.

The candle is also used for doing the work of the destroyer. Setting 3 fires without lighting herself up, helping her again to survive.

Answer 2

In one of the novels, I don't remember specifically which, the Fool tells Fitz about the dream in Bee's journal. I'm quite certain that it went along the lines of "Three candles and the child lives, four and the child dies".

When Fitz and his companions go through the skill pillar into the mountains (recall Bee, Dwalia, and her companions were there too), they get attacked by a bear but Fitz manages to find three candles. If memory serves me right Bee manages to hold on to one candle. This gave the Fool in particular the certainty that Bee was still alive, but as we know Fitz didn't always fully believe in any of the prophets' dreams. I remember quite clearly Fitz didn't want to get his hopes up too high.

Answer 3

It is about how many candles Fitz finds when he arrives at the camp. If there are four candles it means Bee is dead because she never found the broken one and took it with her. She died before finding it, either from the bear or because Dwalia doesn't figure out the pillar and they freeze to death. If she lives and finds it, then Fitz will only find three, meaning Bee is alive with the candle but the wolf and jester dont know it. Plus with Bee alive, she now goes to Clerres and uses it to burn the future and past, meaning the recorded dreams.

Answer 4

At the end of Chapter 11 Bee realises that finding the candle meant her father had come after her, and possibly died in a bear attack. Bee then reasons that if her father is in fact dead she would have to save herself. I see the fourth candle as Bee's catalyst in fighting for her own survival, and thus Fitz only having the three candles leads to Bee still being alive.