This is all in accordance with Rand's treaty. He was basically doing anything to get them to fight with him at The Last Battle. Now that he's gone, shit's gonna happen between The White Tower and the Seanchan. It's inevitable.
Egwene dies! EGWENE IS MEANINGFUL.
Totes agree with you about Gawyn and his stupidity, though. When he put on the ter'angreal ring, I was like, "Oh, you dumbass. Wait, you're gonna die. YES, DO THAT."
Whether it be related to what happened in the book, what it was like writing it, or anything else - what would you ask Brandon?
I think my question would probably be what death was the hardest to write.