So after reading Chapters 1 and the prologue any new theories as to what's going to happen next?
The Prologue changed my thoughts on Min's vision in LoC of Rand and another man touching and merging. I thought it was LTT and Rand, but now I think it's Moridin and Rand. It would actually be really nice symmetry to the entire story. WoT opens with a scene between LTT and Ishy and ends with a scene with Moridin and Rand...two souls "reborn" into new bodies.
For Moiraine, we've had immense foreshadowing that she's going to make it out of Finnland alive. My bet is that seeing her is what breaks through Rand's neurosis and teaches him to laugh and cry again. This won't happen until Towers of Midnight (is it too early to start calling it ToM yet?). Oh yeah, and then we find out that Moiraine killed Asmodean because the Finn in Tear told her to do it, so that Rand could start the Black Tower
. On a more probable note, I also bet Cadsuane will die and Nynaeve will take her place as Rand's advisor.
Other predictions: Rand's alliance with the Seanchan will happen in this book, with Tuon and Tylee's connections to Mat and Perrin playing a key role. Semirhage will escape thanks to an as-of-yet unknown darkfriend in Rand's camp. The two Aes Sedai factions are reunified, thanks to the Ajah heads and something involving Gawyn. My loony theory is that Siuan is somehow restored as Amyrlin and all records of the break and Elaida and Egwene as Amyrlin are sealed in the 13th Depository. Mat and Perrin probably have minimal roles. Mat maybe makes it to the Tower of Ghenji, Perrin probably runs into Galad's Whitecloak faction. Elayne also will get minimal screentime and I bet her coronation doesn't go as smoothly as expected...
One thing we haven't seen yet is the Shadow openly ruling anywhere. I think TGS may be the book where one of the Forsaken comes out into the open.