Yes. This exactly. I said The Dragon Reborn, but you're right it was The Shadow Rising. And this is exactly what I was thinking of. Thank you. There are even conversations between Moiraine and Thom during the time they were in Tear. It was pretty obvious to me then.
I saw this coming for a long while. Probably in The Dragon Reborn, actually. I think it's a great fit. :cheese The scene kind of bothered me; something seemed a little rushed/off. But there have been quite a few scenes like that, and I just chock it up to a new "director."