Who is the Aiel Woman at the end of A Memory of Light?

Question

In the first section of the Epilogue of Wheel of Time, when

"Rand" is carrying "Moridin" out of Shayol Ghul, he stumbles outside and he sees a figure leaning down to him.

We have the following passage:

He could...see, just faintly. A figure kneeling down beside him. "Yes," a woman whispered. He did not recognize the voice. "Yes, that's good. That is what you need to do."

She is described as being an woman with white hair, dressed in Aiel clothing. My original assumptions were Sorilea or Bair, but it is said he does not recognize the voice. Another possibility could maybe be

Nakomi, whom Aviendha meets on her way back to Rhuidean in Towers of Midnight. She is described as having greying hair.

Who is this mystery Aiel woman?

Answer 1

Brandon has been asked about this a lot on twitter and on tour, but cannot discuss the big mysteries from the Epilogue.

From Twitter on Jan 23, 2013:

[Asked about the Woman]

Brandon Sanderson:
I have been advised to RAFO questions regarding most everything from there on.

and

Brandon Sanderson:
This is one that I'm not answering, I'm afraid. RJ wanted some things about the ending to remain ambiguous.

_{Twitter transcript available on Theoryland, more detail and spoilers foor those who haven't read A Memory of Light on link.}

But the most popular fan theory is that it was Nakomi, which (to my mind) has almost been confirmed by Brandon:

Question
Who was the Aiel woman that Aviendha met on her trip to Rhuidean?

Brandon Sanderson
Nakomi. Also, RAFO, there's a hint in A Memory of Light.

(Later in the evening, he said that hint can be found between the chapter "The Last Battle" and the end of the book. He also said she came from deep in Jordan's notes, and he did not feel like he could give more information than that. Also, she might be explained in the encyclopedia, but no promises regarding that.)

_{From an interview transcript on theoryland. (Emphasis mine)}

Other suggestions I've seen include:

• Tigraine / Shaiel
• The Avatar for the creator (as a version of Shadar Hairan was for the Dark One), occasionally mixed with the Nakomi idea.

I agree that the fact she isn't recognised, rules outone of the Wise Ones we've seen regularly in the series.

Unfortunately, the encyclopedia, The Wheel of Time Companion, sheds no extra light on the matter.

Answer 2

Another possibility is that the "Aiel" woman is Rand's mother. Yes, I know she's supposed to be dead, but it would explain other things too.

Answer 3

I like the Nakomi answer, but it still raises the question of "Who is Nakomi?" Perhaps,

Rand's mother Tigraine/Shaiel has been bound to the Wheel as one of the Heroes of the Horn of Valere. (Who was Valere?) As Olver was sounding the Horn in Thakan'dar at the time, the Heroes would have been present. What I don't like about this theory, is why would Tigraine appear old, as she had died as a relatively young woman, and even those like Hawkwing who would have died older, appear more youthful when the Horn calls them.

Answer 4

What about Miernin/Lanfear? Is there any chance her original Age of Legenda body would look like a current day Aiel? She was down at Shayol Ghul and may have returned to her more benevolent, original appearance.

Answer 5

If the wheel turned and the bore was sealed once before the healer of the bore was a female. Possibly the woman was the female dragon that closed the bore the previous time.

Answer 6

I assumed that it was

Alivia, the Seanchan who was fated to help him die, because while Rand al'Thor didn't die at Shayol Ghul, the Dragon Reborn did.