Nynaeve undergoes the Accepted test, facing her greatest fears in a series of visions within a three-arched ter’angreal, and earns her new rank despite loudly proclaiming her hatred for Aes Sedai.
Sheriam Sedai is leading Nynaeve down to the chamber where Aes Sedai rituals are held. We have already seen Moiraine take her test to become Aes Sedai here in New Spring, and we also saw her and Siuan take their oaths here the next day. Nynaeve is here to take a test that will raise her to Accepted if she passes. A ter’angreal dominates the room: three silver arches just tall enough to walk through, all fused into one unbroken piece and set evenly around a circular base. Sheriam explains that inside each arch Nynaeve will face her greatest fears about her past, her present, and her future. I don’t like where this is going — if Nynaeve meets any ghosts inside of this thing, I’m throwing the book across the room.
Inside the first arch, Nynaeve finds herself naked and in a maze whose corridors look exactly like the inside of the maze in Labyrinth (1986). Nynaeve runs through the maze, trying to find a way out before Aginor appears and stands in her way. Embarrassed by her nudity, she runs away, but Aginor keeps pace and makes lewd remarks. Finally, Nynaeve gets mad enough to channel and flips the script—hurling fire and lightning until Aginor is the one running scared. It takes her on a power trip, and she’s ready to overwhelm him when she sees a silver arch off to one side. Recalling that the way out would only appear once, Nynaeve reluctantly abandons her pursuit and steps through the arch.
In the next arch, Nynaeve’s guilt over leaving Emond’s Field takes center stage. It’s a dystopian vision where the new Wisdom has turned out to be a wicked woman who causes misery rather than helping and healing the villagers. Worst of all, Bran al’Vere is dead and Cenn Bui has been elected Mayor. In the third arch, the nation of Malkier has somehow been revived with Lan and Nynaeve ruling the nation as King and Queen. Having to turn her back first on her compatriots and then on a perfect vision of domestic bliss leaves Nynaeve in tears, loudly proclaiming that she hates all Aes Sedai.
Having passed the trial, Nynaeve becomes an Accepted.