The Official Re-Read of Book 1: A Game Of Thrones

Holmbo · April 25, 2015

The one thing I took most notice of in this chapter is how happy Arya seems. She's riding every day exploring and making friends with all kinds of people. I don't think we ever get a pov with her when she seems this happy.

Also I felt sorry for Illyn Payne actually. People saying he looks scary and he can't even give any retort to them. I would stare scarily at Sansa too if I was him. Of course later it does seem like he's a horrible person but maybe it's a bit like with the hound that they might very much be products of their environment.

Another thing I notice is every time Joffrey does something that seems nice. We know from later that he's a despicable person through and through that things like him singing for Sansa while they ride stand out.

Favorite thing: “Oh, I love riding," :D Sansa is the worst. Which brings me to my prediction.

Prediction: Sansa will be one of the few protagonists to survive the end of the series. I feel like GRRM intentionally started out with her being a horrible person so that she could have great arch during the entire book series. She kinda remind me of Jaime in a way. The way he might have been when he was her age. Hopefully Sansa will be able to abandon her romantic notions of knights and ladies while still not giving up on compassion and seeing the good in people.

*Okay, really? I'm sorry but I continue to think that this wheelhouse sounds completely ridiculous. What sort of person, fantasy story or not, buys and builds a massive two story wheelhouse that needs to be pulled by forty something horses and then doesn't bother to include any windows? A vehicle built for traveling without any windows? Lots of windows would make it lighter in all ways. So are we to think that they have covered candles and shit going all the time even though they're bouncing along over rough roads and everything? I feel like this shit wasn't necessarily thought through.

I agree it makes very little sense. Maybe it has skylights :D

Sometimes it annoys me when book readers get upset that the show didn't do faithful adaption of these things. Like the iron throne not being this crazy huge thing (how would one even hear what was being said by the people coming for an audience) and the wheelhouse not being majestic enough.

As for the wheelhouse itself, this story also has the NW wearing black uniforms in a landscape of snow and ice, the worst possible camouflage, while the KG wear white scale armor, which they couldn't use on the show because the reflection from sunlight would make it blindingly bright, so, yeah, a lot of the overdone fantasy touches have little practical utility, I'd think.

I remember someone on a podcast making a joke that the reason there are so many wars is that their whole economy is based on production of all the crazy armor.

Edited April 25, 2015 by Holmbo

clady · April 25, 2015

Sansa is probably my favorite character (mainly due to the show though) so I hope your prediction comes true! Honestly in the books I have no favorites. I pretty much dislike all the main characters on all sides or feel neutral about them.

Brn2bwild · April 25, 2015

Just have to pop in and say, after having reread AGoT along with the rest of you (the novel and the chapter summaries), I feel like the plotting is kind of messed up. While it might make logical sense for King Robert to come all the way North to ask Ned to be his Hand, why would he make Ned leave with him so soon after, when Bran's life balanced on a knife's edge and there had been no decisions about how Winterfell would be run in his absence? Why not give him time to get his affairs in order and, if there was concern about him running (doubtful, since Ned is so honorable), keep royal troops stationed nearby?

Then later in the novel,

the Tyrion capture plot seems designed to get Catelyn away from Winterfell, separated from Bran and Rickon. It just seems so round-about.

I can't wrap my head around Catelyn's character in the novel. Influenced by Michelle Fairley's portrayal, I liked her when I read AGoT the first time, but this time around, she just seems so severe and proper. Yet somehow, I can't see her as the type of woman who would punish Arya for abandoning her sewing, as Arya dreads in her first chapter. And later in the novel,

without a qualm, she takes actions that are hardly demure, like her capture of Tyrion and bringing him to the Eyrie.

Edited April 25, 2015 by Brn2bwild

Holmbo · April 26, 2015

There are many more likable characters in the show than in the book I think. In the books my favorite is Tyrion. Not that I find him a good person I just enjoy him. In this book I think I find Dany to seem the most likeable character.

Avaleigh · April 26, 2015

The one thing I took most notice of in this chapter is how happy Arya seems. She's riding every day exploring and making friends with all kinds of people. I don't think we ever get a pov with her when she seems this happy.

I agree with this. This might well even be the happiest we'll ever see Arya. I like Arya for the most part and I mostly enjoy her POVs, but further down the road I end up having some pretty big problems with her character in terms of rooting for her so I'm glad to read this again because it reminds me that I really did like her at one point and was most certainly rooting for her.

(I might be wrong but I don't even think that Arya has referred anyone or anything as being "stupid" yet. To me that's huge when I think of how often she uses that word in books 2-4.)

As far as Arya playing nice with Sansa--I agree that Arya at this point seems to be trying with Sansa. She wants to be included with Sansa and the other girls, she wants Sansa to spend time with her, and she seems to like Sansa more than Sansa likes Arya. Sansa seems to see Arya as a troublesome cloud and that has to sting a bit. On the show though I had any easier time of seeing why Arya got on Sansa's nerves. On the show Arya just throws some food in Sansa's face without any provocation and it's like we're supposed to think that Arya is cute and funny or something but all it did was make me roll my eyes at how annoying she seemed to be right out of the gate.

What I really love about Arya in this chapter though is that even though she's furious with Sansa she still stands up for Lady and is at no point relieved that Sansa's direwolf is taking the fall for Nymeria. Sansa though went all 1984 Room 101 on Arya and Nymeria and that's pretty impossible to forget. I have a much better time being able to cut Sansa some slack for claiming that she couldn't remember what happened since she was after all expected to marry Joffrey. But to point her finger and basically say punish Arya and kill Nymeria as opposed to not wanting either to happen--I wish that she'd found some way of expressing the fact that she was at all upset or concerned about Arya and Nymeria being in the line of fire.

Another thing I notice is every time Joffrey does something that seems nice. We know from later that he's a despicable person through and through that things like him singing for Sansa while they ride stand out.

One of the reasons I quoted the "magical" part of Sansa's day with Joffrey was because it sounds like some fantasy dream of Sansa's as opposed to something that she genuinely did experience given what we know of Joffrey and the dynamic of the relationship during their betrothal. I honestly didn't remember them having all that much fun and it's probably because the show cut it down to them walking off and having some wine and almost instantly running into Arya and Mycah. Here we see Joffrey being courteous and even fun, it's like something out of some alternate universe. It's easy to see why Sansa was initially charmed by him. I also like that it shows that Joffrey was capable of turning it on and off and that he wasn't monstrous 24/7. He was probably always going to be a little asshole but I think he just got worse as time went by and it certainly didn't help that he became a king at such a young age.

There are many more likable characters in the show than in the book I think.

I have to agree that many of the show versions of the characters are more likable. Off the top of my head, I prefer show Viserys, Cersei, Jorah, Bronn, Sansa, Sam, and *gasp* (because apparently it's blasphemy) Stannis. It isn't even all about likability necessarily. I also prefer show Margaery, Roose, Ramsay, Varys, and Selyse to name a few. I'm sure there are others.

I think the big, *big* exceptions for me are Jaime, Loras, and Littlefinger in that I much prefer their book counterparts. Most of the other characters I like about equally books or show, although I'm sure there are some notable characters that I'm probably forgetting.

Edited April 26, 2015 by Avaleigh

Lady S. · April 26, 2015

Then later in the novel,

the Tyrion capture plot seems designed to get Catelyn away from Winterfell, separated from Bran and Rickon. It just seems so round-about.

And the travel time makes no sense! He left Winterfell after she left King's Landing, so how did they meet in the Riverlands? It's such a plot contrivance just to create conflict, the whole knife plot is, really. I don't doubt Joffrey was the culprit but there just wasn't much set-up, and no indication here that Robert even said anything about Bran being better off dead. At least there were clues for the reveal of Jon Arryn's murder.

And yeah, I thought of mentioning Cat's relationship with her daughters in light of Sansa's chapter. I find it weird that Ned takes the time to give life lessons about being a man to Robb, Jon, and Bran while the girls' education as ladies is apparently left entirely to Septa Mordane. Catelyn is a more political character than Ned, believes women can rule as well as men, and tries her best to be involved in counseling Robb, yet she doesn't prepare her daughters to be ladies who can help their husbands rule, apparently only getting involved to brush Sansa's hair and check on their needlework. I don't buy it that she wouldn't want to make sure they knew more than that. Motherhood is such a big part of her character arc, but the only child of her own she ever interacts with is Robb. It actually drives me crazy to read Arya I now and have the chapter end right before a Cat/Arya scene would start. At least the show gave her scenes with Bran and Sansa in the pilot.

Edited April 26, 2015 by Lady S.

Constantinople · April 26, 2015

Joff being into wine at 12 and trying to get Sansa drunk, his one Robert-like quality? (since Cersei's alcoholism develops more after Robert's death, and Robert is big on getting Ned to drink with him)

In retrospect, it makes me think of Joff as the budding date rapist more than as a chip off the old block.

Holmbo · April 26, 2015

In retrospect, it makes me think of Joff as the budding date rapist more than as a chip off the old block.

There is a later chapter where it seems he might have planned to roofie her. I'll write about that when we get to it.

In regards to Cat I haven't seen her as inconsistent so I'll have to pay some attention to that going forward. I don't know that we can tell Sansa and Arya was always educated by Septa. Are you saying they never mention a lesson by Cat the way for example Jon thinks of Ned teaching Robb to have a good commanding voice by having them yell to each other from two towers?

Avaleigh · April 26, 2015

EDDARD III

It's been four days since the incident between Joffrey and Arya and Arya has been missing ever since. Ned's steward Vayon Poole comes to Ned to tell him that Arya has been found by Jory and that she is unharmed.

Shaken but relieved, Ned wants Arya brought to him at once but unfortunately Lannister guards were posted at the gate where Arya was brought in and they immediately informed the Queen who in turn had Arya brought straight before the King.

Feeling furious, Ned curses Cersei for her interference and asks Poole to have Sansa brought down just in case they need her to confirm what happened between Arya and Joffrey. Ned has been worried the way any parent would be when their child goes missing but he's also angry and upset that Arya wasn't brought directly to him. He wants to run to where she's being held but he feels that it would be undignified to demonstrate such emotion now that he's Hand.

The royal party are crashing at the small castle of Ser Raymun Darry because of it's convenient location, but the castle is plenty inconvenient in other ways mainly in that the Darry family supported the Targaryens during Robert's Rebellion and neither side has forgotten this fact. Adding to the discomfort is the problem of the castle simply being too small to accommodate such a large party so tensions are running high in general.

Ned finds Robert occupying Darry's audience chamber and the room is crowded with people. Ned feels that they'd have a better chance settling the matter amicably if they could be alone but it isn't meant to be.

The King is on the high seat in the chamber and the Queen and Joffrey are standing right next to him. Joffrey's arm is covered in bandages and Cersei's body language is all lioness protecting her cub.

Ned rushes over to Arya and she begins to cry once she sees him and repeatedly tells him that she's sorry. Ned hugs her and comforts her and tells her that he knows. He briefly marvels over how such a small girl can be the cause of so much trouble. He asks Arya if she's hurt and she tells him that she isn't hurt just hungry, so he promises her that she'll get to eat soon.

Demanding to know why Arya wasn't brought to him instantly, Cersei bristles at Ned's tone and chastises him for addressing the King so disrespectfully. Robert basically tells Cersei to shut up with all of that noise and apologizes to Ned saying that he never meant to frighten Arya. Robert just wants this business to be over and done with. Ned wants to know what Robert means and Cersei tells him not to play stupid and say that it's obviously about Arya, the butcher's boy, and the direwolf trying to attack her son Joffrey. She claims that the direwolf nearly tore Joffrey's arm off.

Arya loudly claims that it isn't true and that Nymeria only bit Joffrey a little. The Queen tells her that Joffrey has said that Arya and the butcher's boy beat Joffrey with clubs and then had the direwolf attack. Arya again denies that this is what happened. Joffrey says that Arya is the liar and says that they attacked him and then Arya threw Lion's Tooth in the river. Arya calls Joffrey a liar to his face so he tells her to shut up.

Robert seems tired of them both and shouts at them to be quiet so that he can hear from them individually. While Arya tells her version of events Vayon Poole brings Sansa into the room.

Renly actually laughs out loud when Arya gets to the part in the story where she threw Lion's Tooth in the river and is so loud about it that the King has Barristan escort him out of the room so that he won't continue to disrupt the proceedings. As Renly is leaving, he tells Joffrey that Joffrey will have to tell him the story one day of how he managed to be disarmed by a nine year old girl who only had a wooden broom handle as a weapon.

Joffrey's lies his ass off so of course his version of events are totally different than Arya's and Robert consequently feels like he doesn't know what to do. Ned says that Joffrey and Arya weren't the only ones present and has Sansa brought forward.

Sansa is in the hot seat now and she's freaking out under the pressure. In between the two of them, she looks from her sister to Joffrey and tearfully says that she doesn't remember exactly what happened because it all happened so fast.

Once Sansa claims that she didn't see, Arya flies at her in a rage and calls her a rotten liar. She starts to hit Sansa and repeatedly screams that she's a liar. Ned yells at Arya and Jory has to pull Arya off of Sansa. Cersei sees this as more evidence that Joffrey is telling the truth and comments that Arya is as wild as her direwolf. She tells Robert that she wants Arya punished.

Robert wants Cersei to get real and tells her that kids fight but no lasting harm was done. Cersei disagrees and points out that Joffrey is going to have these scars for life. Robert isn't phased by this at all and says that maybe the scars will teach Joffrey a lesson. He tells Ned to make sure that Arya is disciplined and seems content to leave the matter at that. Ned is relieved and Robert rises to walk away.

Cersei isn't finished yet though and asks what will become of the direwolf that attacked the son of the King. Jory speaks up and says that they can't find the direwolf anyway. Robert seems relieved and doesn't think anything further needs to be done.

Cersei offers one hundred golden dragons to anyone who offers her the skin of Nymeria but Robert says this part has nothing to do with him and that if Cersei is going to spend money on having the direwolf killed then she can spend her own Lannister money on it. Cersei calls Robert cheap and says that she thought that the man she married would easily have been able to present her with a wolfskin if she'd asked for one. Robert basically tells her that he would if he could but reminds her that the direwolf seems to have run off.

Quietly, Cersei points out that they have another wolf. Robert seems like he doesn't want to fight anymore and tells Cersei fine and to have Ilyn Payne see to it.

Ned is shocked that Robert can mean what he's saying and Robert tells Ned that Sansa will be better off not having such a savage beast for a pet.

It's only now starting to dawn on Sansa that they're talking about killing Lady. Still, she asks her father if they're really talking about killing Lady and when she get confirmation that it's true she tries to defend Lady saying that Lady didn't bite anyone and that Lady is good. Arya too pipes up to defend Lady saying that she wasn't even there and should be left alone.

Sansa begs for Ned to save Lady and tells them again that Lady didn't bite anyone and that it was Nymeria and Arya. She swears that Lady is good and that she'll promise to make her be good. She begins to cry and Ned holds her in his arms.

Ned looks at Robert and pleads with him for the love of he has for Ned and even for the love of Lyanna to not let this happen. Robert looks at Ned for a long time and then says "Damn you" to his wife as though he wants to absolve himself of responsibility.

Ned then asks Robert to at least have the courage to kill the direwolf himself. Robert looks at Ned again for a long moment and then turns around and leaves the room.

Cersei wants to get down to business and asks where the direwolf is. Joffrey is smiling as all of this is going on.

Barristan says that the direwolf is chained up outside so she tells him to send for Ilyn Payne. Ned says no and tells Jory to bring him his sword Ice after returning the girls back to their rooms. Cersei is immediately suspicious and wants to know why Ned would want to kill the direwolf himself. Ned tells Cersei that Lady is of the North and deserves better than to be handed over to a butcher.

Tears come to Ned's eyes as he leaves the audience chamber to the cries of both of his daughters.

He left the room with his eyes burning and his daughter’s wails echoing in his ears, and found the direwolf pup where they chained her. Ned sat beside her for a while. “Lady,” he said, tasting the name. He had never paid much attention to the names the children had picked, but looking at her now, he knew that Sansa had chosen well. She was the smallest of the litter, the prettiest, the most gentle and trusting. She looked at him with bright golden eyes, and he ruffled her thick grey fur.

Jory soon brings Ned Ice and the life of Lady is brought to an end. After it's over Ned tells Jory to get four men together to have Lady's body taken so that it can be buried at Winterfell. Jory is surprised that Ned wants the men to travel all that way but Ned tells him that Cersei will never be permitted to wear Lady's skin.

Ned is heading back to the tower to finally get some sleep when Sandor Clegane rides up with something slung over his horse. Ned braces himself and thinks that he's going to have to tell Arya that Nymeria was killed as well.

Instead Ned finds that Clegane has killed the thirteen year old butcher's boy Mycah. His body was practically cut in half after being ridden down. The Hound laughs when Ned comments about what happened saying that the boy did indeed run only not very fast.

Avaleigh · April 26, 2015

I just realized that I skipped ahead in my comments on Arya. I did both summaries back to back so the other was fresh in my mind too.

Ned really does have faith in his men because 100 dragons would have to be pretty tempting and while the offer wasn't made for Lady specifically I feel like some men would be inclined to think that they would still be able to get a nice little payday if they chose to hand Lady's skin over to Cersei instead. All they'd have to say was that they were stopped by Lannister men. I'm just thinking of all of the people who were ready to jump and kill a dwarf in the hope that they'd be rewarded with gold by the Queen.

I wonder what Robert would have said if Ned had told him that he can't be Hand for a man who can no longer do his own killing.

That brings me to another what if. What if Ned had just called it quits right then and there but Cat still goes down to KL to find out about the dagger and everything and still meets up with Tyrion on the way back. What if she'd just taken Tyrion back with her to Winterfell?

Lady S. · April 27, 2015

In regards to Cat I haven't seen her as inconsistent so I'll have to pay some attention to that going forward. I don't know that we can tell Sansa and Arya was always educated by Septa. Are you saying they never mention a lesson by Cat the way for example Jon thinks of Ned teaching Robb to have a good commanding voice by having them yell to each other from two towers?

Never, Sansa's always thinking of Mordane's courtesy lessons and Arya just thinks things like how her mother would want her to brush her hair.

I really feel for Ned in this chapter, but I keep wondering what he could have done to save Lady since that really came down to the adults, not the girls or even Joffrey. Sansa's throwing Arya under the bus really annoys me, but it's harder to fault her silence before the King, even if she did it for the wrong reasons. If Ned had threatened to not be Robert's Hand, I think that would have had an effect, it's not like when he tries that later and can't get past Bobby's Targkilling-boner. Robert really doesn't care here, and the way he talks to Cersei makes me think he'd welcome a pretext to side with Ned over her. Or maybe Ned could have prepared Sansa better when she first told him what happened. He kinda reminds me of Cat in her last chapter here, sleepless and focused on Arya the way she was sleepless and focused on Bran, although she went without sleep for much longer so Ned still has his shit together somewhat.

Renly's laughing must have only made Cersei's malice worse. Bob did the right thing in some small way by getting rid of him.

Murdering Mycah is bad enough, but The Hound's laughter is really what's hard to forget as a reader.

Holmbo · April 27, 2015

I don't think putting ultimatums to Robert would have been the right way to go. I'm thinking the best way would be for Ned to follow him as he stormed out and offer a compromise. Like that he would send the wolf back to Winterfell. Robert doesn't care one way or another so href probably say fine. It would have to be quick though because otherwise Ceresei might have time to send Ser Illyn out.

Avaleigh · April 27, 2015

I agree that sending Lady back to Winterfell would have been a reasonable compromise and something that Robert might very well have said yes to. Sansa would still be upset of course and she'd probably blame Arya, but it would be better than nothing. I almost wish that GRRM had done this even if he ended up having Lady killed during the sack of Winterfell.

Robert is so weak here. He almost seems like he wants to please everyone here but really he just wants things to be easy on himself. He'd rather damage his friendship with Ned than have to suffer hearing any of Cersei's bitching on the matter of the wolf.

Ned seems like he thinks that it would have worked out better if he and Robert could have spoken in private. I wonder why Ned didn't at least ask to speak to Robert privately. You know if Littlefinger had been in that situation he'd have had the presence of mind to come up with some pretext like he's had word from Winterfell about Bran or something. Not that honorable Ned would ever tell a white lie for that sort of purpose.

Edited April 27, 2015 by Avaleigh

Lady S. · April 27, 2015

Yeah, that does sound like the obvious solution. I don't know why Ned couldn't have offered an alternative instead of prevailing on only Robert's friendship. And why didn't they talk about this during the four days Arya was missing? Wouldn't he be aware of Cersei's insane rage during that time? I'm trying to cut Ned some slack here because of the sleepless nights he was working on, my real problem is he doesn't appear to take any lesson about what kind of people Robert and Cersei are, or he knows but doesn't really deal with them accordingly.

I get the feeling Robert was always weaker when he didn't have a weapon in hand, and his years surrounded by Lannisters only exacerbated that, he didn't really become a different person. I just don't think teenage Robert was ever much of a stand-up guy either, which is why Ned's loyalty to him always bothered me. They probably had some good times growing up but was Robert ever so loyal to Ned? It seems like Robert's never taken much responsibility for anything in his life. (I wonder if "the man who passes the sentence should swing the sword" idea is there just to contrast Ned and Robert. I don't think there's a real world historical precedent for that, is there?) I feel like, at least after this incident, Ned should start thinking of Robert differently instead of just hoping he'll come through as a friend.

This is probably Cersei's only "victory" in this book that's really hers alone, since later on she has help from Lancel, Littlefinger, and Ned himself. And it's a very petty one that doesn't really achieve anything for her, making it typical for Cersei.

Edited April 27, 2015 by Lady S.

Brn2bwild · April 28, 2015

The Lady scene in AGoT (which I still can't read, even after all of the other awful things that happened) makes me hope there is a parallel scene in the show or books later on, where a triumphant Sansa approaches a weak, cornered Cersei.

Cersei: It was Joffrey who did those terrible things to you! Joffrey who murdered your family! Joffrey's dead!

Sansa: Funny, I see another king here.

Cersei: Not Tommen! Tommen is innocent!

Edited April 28, 2015 by Brn2bwild

Avaleigh · April 28, 2015

BRAN III

Bran is having a dream where he's falling and there's a voice in the dream that is repeatedly telling him to fly. He thinks about how in dreams people always wake up before they hit the ground and the voice that tells him to fly asks him what if he doesn't wake up after he hits the ground?

Bran keeps saying that he's unable to fly and asks a crow in the dream to help him. He continues to fall. The conversation goes on and Bran tells the crow that it's just a dream and when he hits the ground he'll wake up. The crow gets really dark with Bran now and tells him that he'll die when he hits the ground, so Bran gets scared and starts to cry.

The crow tells him that crying won't do him any good and that the answer is to fly. The crow says to Bran that there are different kinds of wings.

As dream Bran stares at his body and tries to remember why he looks so thin, he briefly sees an image of Jaime before Jaime pushes him out of the window of the tower.

Bran screams after hearing the voice of Jaime say "The things I do for love" and the crow basically tells him to not think about how he got injured and to push that to the back of his mind.

Falling faster than ever now, Bran asks the crow what he's trying to do to him? The crow tells him that he's teaching him how to fly but Bran insists that he's falling and it's clear that he's fucking scared.

The crow now commands him to look down so Bran does and while the ground is rushing up at him, he's also seeing all of the realm and everyone in it. He can see all of Winterfell and its current inhabitants. He sees Catelyn and Ser Rodrik journeying to King's Landing and he can see that a storm is approaching them. He sees his father Ned pleading with the King, Sansa crying herself to sleep, and Arya brooding silently in the dark. He can see clear all the way across the Narrow Sea and even sees "dragons stirring beneath the sunrise."

Bran finally turns his gaze north where he sees Jon over at the Wall. He continues to look further north until he finds himself screaming again after gazing in the "heart of winter".

The crow tells Bran that Bran now knows why he must live. Bran still doesn't understand and asks why? The crow tells him it's because winter is coming. Bran notices at this point that the crow that has been speaking to him in the dream all this time has three eyes.

Bran is frightened and he recalls the conversation he had with his father where he asks if a man can still be brave even when he's afraid and Ned tells him that's actually the only time a man can be brave.

The crow tells Bran that now is the time where he has to choose to fly or die. Feeling as though death is coming, Bran decides to spread his arms and finds that he is flying. Bran thinks it's better than climbing and indeed better than anything he's ever experienced.

All excited that he's flying, the crow decides to take this moment to use its beak to start to peck the hell out of Bran. It's painful and Bran again wants to know what the crow is trying to do to him.

The crow opened its beak and cawed at him, a shrill scream of fear, and the grey mists shuddered and swirled around him and ripped away like a veil, and he saw that the crow was really a woman, a serving woman with long black hair, and he knew her from somewhere, from Winterfell, yes, that was it, he remembered her now, and then he realized that he was in Winterfell, in a bed high in some chilly tower room, and the black-haired woman dropped a basin of water to shatter on the floor and ran down the steps, shouting, “He’s awake, he’s awake, he’s awake.”

Bran's forehead is still burning from where the crow pecked him but when he goes to feel for a wound he find that there isn't one there.

Feeling weak and feeling like the world is spinning, Bran tries to get out of bed and finds that he can't. He notices something moving on his bed and realizes that it's his direwolf only he's looking less like a pup these days. Bran seems surprised by how big his wolf is now and immediately feels warmed and comforted by the wolf's presence.

Robb suddenly bursts into the room in time to see the direwolf licking Bran's face. Bran looks up at Robb and calmly tells him that he has finally named his direwolf and that his name is Summer.

Edited April 28, 2015 by Avaleigh

Lady S. · April 29, 2015

What a trippy chapter, and one that made Bran's story hard to adapt for tv right from the start.

WearyTraveler · April 29, 2015

I liked what they did by having Bran open his eyes the moment Lady was killed. I bet a few people got freaked out by it. He, he!

I thought this chapter did a good job of hinting what a special boy Bran is with his seeing everything all the way to "dragons stirring" in the east.

I didn't understand (still don't) why he named the direwolf Summer. What am I missing?

Avaleigh · April 29, 2015

The only thing I can come up with is that Summer warmed him up both physically and emotionally so he was responding to that.

It's a small detail that I doubt we'll ever get but I'd be curious about some past names of direwolves of the Kings of Winterfell. (Or maybe this info is in TWOIAF and I just haven't gotten to it yet since I just skipped around and read the stuff I was most interested in.)

The crow is kind of a dick in the way that he talks to Bran and seems like he's deliberately trying to terrify him. I get that it's all for a purpose but I kind of winced at the way he kept implying to this scared kid that he, the kid, is moments away from dying.

Holmbo · April 30, 2015

I must confess I do not like dreams and visions in books. They really bore me. It's like listening to some person in real life talk about a dream they had. "I dreamt I was living inside a giant bell pepper which was floating in the ocean and suddenly it was a prison and I tried to saw my way out through the bars. What do you think it means?" I don't care.

As for Bran naming his Direwolf I think it was in response to winter is coming. He knew he had to live to fight the forces of winter so he named his wolf summer.

Avaleigh · April 30, 2015

CATELYN IV

King's Landing is just an hour away now and Catelyn is so pleased that they've arrived so quickly that she tells the ship's Captain that she'll pay each of the oarsmen a silver stag in order to show her appreciation. Captain Moreo Tumitis kisses her ass a bit and tells her that the honor of carrying a great lady like her is all the reward his men need, but Catelyn responds that she's pretty sure they'll take the silver anyway. The green-bearded Tyroshi knows it's true so he smiles and seemingly acknowledges the reputation the Tyroshi have for greed.

The wounds on Catelyn's fingers from the attack are still painful and she can no longer bend two of her fingers. As much as it hurts, she also feels that the pain gives her the courage and resolve to not forget.

Ser Rodrick emerges onto the deck and he's apparently had a rough time of it during the voyage due to seasickness and an experience where he was almost swept overboard. He's also clean shaven now after having vomited into his beard one too many times. On the plus side, he says that he hasn't wanted to die for almost two days now so apparently that means things are looking up. Captain Moreo tells him that he looks better and Catelyn thinks that while Rodrik looks a bit thinner he basically seems like he's getting back to normal. She tells him they're almost at King's Landing so Moreo decides to give them some privacy.

As they look towards the shore Rodrik seems a bit embarrassed that he's been indisposed for a good portion of their journey so far but Catelyn doesn't seem bothered. She's just glad that they've arrived safely and that he's nearly well again. She goes on to say that they next have to reach the King's master at arms and pray that the man can be trusted.

The King's master at arms is Ser Aron Santagar and Rodrik says that he thinks Santagar is an honest man if vain, but he feels that the man will probably be able to recognize the dagger. Rodrik is more concerned about potentially being spotted by anyone and points out that there are especially people at court who would instantly recognize Lady Stark.

Catelyn's mind goes to Littlefinger now and she remembers how he was as a child and that he was small for his age. She remembers that it was her brother Edmure who saddled Petyr Baelish with the nickname of Littlefinger.

Rodrik seems as though he wants to say that Littlefinger used to have a thing for Catelyn but the subject seems to embarrass him so he trails off and leaves it to Catelyn to confirm that Littlefinger did indeed want to marry her even though she only saw him as a brother.

“He was my father’s ward. We grew up together in Riverrun. I thought of him as a brother, but his feelings for me were . . . more than brotherly. When it was announced that I was to wed Brandon Stark, Petyr challenged for the right to my hand. It was madness. Brandon was twenty, Petyr scarcely fifteen. I had to beg Brandon to spare Petyr’s life. He let him off with a scar. Afterward my father sent him away. I have not seen him since.” She lifted her face to the spray, as if the brisk wind could blow the memories away. “He wrote to me at Riverrun after Brandon was killed, but I burned the letter unread. By then I knew that Ned would marry me in his brother’s place.”

Rodrik mentions that Littlefinger is on the small council now and Catelyn comments that she always knew that Littlefinger would move up in the world because he was always clever. She wonders though what all the years have done to him in the time since they last saw each other.

King's Landing is fully coming into view now and Catelyn is taking in the sight of everything. She thinks a bit about the history of the city and the prominent buildings like the Red Keep and the Great Sept of Baelor.

Now that they've arrived Rodrik suggests that he go to the Red Keep to get Aron Santagar and bring him back to meet Catelyn. He thinks now that he's clean shaven he won't be so recognizable and certainly a lot less recognizable than Catelyn would be.

Captain Moreo wants to settle up payment with Catelyn and reminds her about the extra silver she promised for the oarsmen. He tries to get her to give it directly to him under the assumption that he'll pay them out but Catelyn is suspicious of the man's intentions and decides to hand each of the men a silver stag herself.

They get a recommendation for an inn from Moreo that's located about halfway up Visenya's Hill. Ser Rodrik makes sure that Catelyn is settled in and cautions her against going in to the common room saying they never know who could be watching. He promises to return with Ser Aron and leaves Catelyn to get some rest. She falls asleep almost instantly.

She wakes up to a loud pounding on the door. The voice on the other side tells her to open up in the name of the King. She wraps herself in a cloak and grabs the dagger before opening the door. The men who come into the room are wearing the golden cloaks of the guards of the city watch. The leader of the men tells her that they are to escort her to the castle. Catelyn immediately asks on whose authority and the man reveals that the orders are coming from Littlefinger.

Concerned that something must have happened to Ser Rodrik, Catelyn asks the man if he knows who she is. The man tells her that he doesn't, that Littlefinger just said to bring her to the castle and to make sure that she isn't mistreated. She tells the guards to give her a few moments to get ready.

All kinds of thoughts are whirling through Catelyn's head now as she gets her clothes together and puts fresh bandages on her hands. How did Littlefinger know where to find her? Where's Ser Rodrik? Had the Lannisters reached King's Landing sooner than she'd anticipated?

She thinks it has to have been Moreo who ratted out her location to Littlefinger.

The guards have brought a horse for Catelyn to ride and they all set off for Red Keep. They take her up to a tower and have her brought to Littlefinger who is sitting alone at a desk. Catelyn demands to know why he's had her brought there so he gets up to go to her and tells the guards to leave them.

Alone now, Littlefinger asks Catelyn if she was at all mistreated and notices that her hands are all bandaged up. Catelyn again wants to know why he's had her brought there and wants to know what happened to the boy she knew who understood the meaning of courtesy.

Petyr says that he wasn't trying to make Catelyn angry and she asks him how he knew that she was in the city. Petyr gives the credit to Lord Varys and says that Varys should actually be joining them in a bit. Petyr tells her that he wanted to see her alone first and Catelyn seems irritated that he's being so familiar with her by doing things like calling her Cat.

She wonders why Varys would go to Littlefinger to tell him about her arrival and Littlefinger gives a list of reasons but mentions his friendship with Lysa as being something that Varys would have very much been aware of.

Petyr asks Catelyn why she's come to King's Landing and at first she tries to play it off and act like she's just there because she misses her family. Littlefinger gets a kick out of Catelyn attempting to bullshit him and reminds her that he knows her better than that. Catelyn thinks to herself that he probably does know her too well and Littlefinger goes on to say basically that it would take something BIG to get Catelyn to leave Winterfell and her child after he's just been so terribly injured.

A knock interrupts them and Lord Varys scurries in to join them and of course he's all powdered, perfumed, and simpering. He tells Catelyn that he was sorry to hear about Bran and offers to get a salve to help with her cut up hands.

It's pretty clear that Catelyn doesn't care for Varys and that in dealing with him her courteous tendencies are being a somewhat tested.

Varys is complimentary about Ned and praises Robert and asks Catelyn if she wants him to send for someone from the Free Cities to see what they might be able to do to help Bran. Catelyn tells Varys thanks but their Maester Luwin is on it and then thinks to herself that she doesn't want to talk about Bran with either of these men since she doesn't trust Varys at all and barely feels like she trusts Littlefinger. She also doesn't want them to witness any of her grief.

Catelyn tells Varys that she supposes she has him to thank for having her brought there so Varys responds by giggling like a girl and says that he's guilty. He then surprises the hell out of Cat by asking her if they might see the dagger.

Stunned by this question, Catelyn wants to know how the hell he knows what he knows and then wonders again as to the whereabouts of Ser Rodrik.

Littlefinger appears to be lost as to what they're talking about and asks for clarification on who Rodrik is and what dagger they're speaking of.

Varys tells Catelyn that Rodrik is fine, that he saw Ser Aron, and that he is now in fact back at the inn wondering and worrying about what's happened to Cat.

Catelyn is still amazed at the depth of information that Varys seems to have at his fingertips and wonders again how he could know any of this. Varys attributes his knowledge to his "little birds".

Varys again asks for the dagger so Catelyn gives it to him and tells him that she hopes he'll be able to tell her who the owner of it is. For some reason Varys decides to run his thumb along the blade so he ends up cutting himself and crying out like he's surprised that the blade is sharp or something.

Littlefinger then picks the dagger up and tells Catelyn that she should have come to him first because he could have told her that there is only one dagger like this in King's Landing and he knows because it belongs to him.

Confused, Catelyn feels like this doesn't make any sense because Petyr wasn't at Winterfell.

Petyr continues and says that the dagger was actually his until a tourney that took place on Joffrey's nameday. He says that he bet on Ser Jaime to win the jousting that day only to be surprised when Jaime ended up being unseated by Loras Tyrell.

Catelyn wants to know who ended up winning the dagger that day and Littlefinger tells her that it was won by none other than Tyrion Lannister.

Holmbo · May 1, 2015

I've never noticed before that Cat's hands were permanently damaged by that knife. Is this ever mentioned again?

I've totally forgot what I thought about this whole knife plot in the books on my first read. Does anyone remember if you thought Tyrion sent the assassin?

I think it was a good choice to change Varys in the show. Giggling TV characters are never much enjoyed by audience. I heard a theory recently that Varys is actually Illyrios wife in disguise and even though there's no base for this it kept popping up in my head as Varys was on page.

I've seen so many people (GRRM in particular) say that LF is so different in the book and show. But doesn't he comes of as creepy here? Smiling slyly. What likeable character has ever done that?

Avaleigh · May 1, 2015

I've never noticed before that Cat's hands were permanently damaged by that knife. Is this ever mentioned again?

I've totally forgot what I thought about this whole knife plot in the books on my first read. Does anyone remember if you thought Tyrion sent the assassin?

I think it was a good choice to change Varys in the show. Giggling TV characters are never much enjoyed by audience. I heard a theory recently that Varys is actually Illyrios wife in disguise and even though there's no base for this it kept popping up in my head as Varys was on page.

I've seen so many people (GRRM in particular) say that LF is so different in the book and show. But doesn't he comes of as creepy here? Smiling slyly. What likeable character has ever done that?

I can't remember. :-/

Count me as somebody who would love to know what was written in the letter before Cat burned it. What sort of person burns a letter before reading it? That wasprobably a newly revised version of how he hoped he/they would take over the world together.

I too hadn't realized that her hands were permanently damaged.

WearyTraveler · May 2, 2015

IIRC, there is at least one more mention of her hand having permanent damage when she's with Robb in the second book.

I remember being surprised that it supposedly belonged to Tyrion, but I also thought that LF was slimy and Varys cunning (that the weakling thing was an act), so, I thought there was something fishy going on, but I didn't guess what it was.

What I didn't recall from the first read was that LF had sent the City Watch to bring Catelyn to him. As early as that he had them in his pocket. Had I kept this detail in my mind until the end of the last chapters of the book, I might have guessed Ned's fate when he tried to challenge Cersei.

Avaleigh · May 2, 2015

I'm surprised that Catelyn wouldn't want to explore her options as far as treatment for Bran considering how desperate she was. I'm not saying that would necessarily be wise but given her level of desperation I feel like she'd at least want to hear what some other maesters and healers might have to say.

Another small thing that stood out to me was Cersei gambling with her jewelry and then not having to suffer the consequences upon losing. That sounds just like her. Also, who wagers with the Queen if they know they can't make any money off of it?

Holmbo · May 2, 2015

Another small thing that stood out to me was Cersei gambling with her jewelry and then not having to suffer the consequences upon losing. That sounds just like her. Also, who wagers with the Queen if they know they can't make any money off of it?

Yes rules does not apply to her in her mind. And why would she even care about losing a brooch? It makes her seem cheap too.

Avaleigh · May 4, 2015

JON III

Jon is kicking ass while he's training at the Wall with the other new recruits. He's just won a fight against Grenn and Grenn is in pain and complaining that "the bastard" has practically broken his wrist.

The man training the new recruits is Ser Alliser Thorne and he takes this moment to remind Grenn that if they were training with sharp blades that Grenn would be dead by now with his skull split open, and comments on how it's lucky for Grenn that they need stable boys and the like at the Wall in addition to rangers.

Taking a moment to relax and savor his small victory, Jon leans on his sword and Thorne instantly snaps at him asking if he's mistaken the sword for a cane. Thorne then asks "Lord Snow" if he is in pain and Jon tries to deny it at first but eventually admits to being tired. Thorne seizes the opportunity to tell Jon that he is weak and Jon doesn't get why Thorne is busting his balls nonstop when Jon is defeating every recruit that Thorne throws his way.

No matter what Jon does he can't seem to please Thorne; he thinks that Thorne hates him but also acknowledges that he probably hates the other guys even more. The other recruits seem to resent how well trained Jon is and they start snickering as Thorne tells Jon off a bit. They also like using Thorne's nickname of Lord Snow for Jon as it's the perfect way to sort of mock Jon's status as the bastard who grew up in one of the greatest castles in the realm.

The training day is at an end because Thorne tells them he can't take dealing with their collective incompetence for a moment longer. Thorne tells them some more about how much they suck and then everyone heads back to the armory.

Jon trails behind everyone else and thinks that out of the twenty or so guys he's been training with that there isn't one that he feels is a friend to him. Even though most of the guys are two to three years older than he is, he thinks that Robb at fourteen could easily out fight them all. Jon feels like he dislikes them more and more with each passing day.

As he's dealing with taking off all of the mail and leather Jon starts thinking about how miserable it is up on the Wall. He's exhausted, he's constantly freezing his ass off, and he can't help but think of how warm it is inside of Winterfell. He also thinks about the fact that nobody apart from Tyrion Lannister bothered to warn him about what life at the Night's Watch would really be like. What's even more painful for Jon is the idea that his father Ned had known what life would be like for Jon at the Wall only to have him go anyway.

It seems that Jon even feels abandoned by his uncle Benjen who spends most of his time with men like the Lord Commander, Maester Aemon, and other high ranking officers.

Three days after their arrival Benjen, as First Ranger, is selected to lead six men on a ranging into the Haunted Forest. Jon very much wants to go with Benjen on this ranging but Benjen tells him that there's no way because he's still a boy and that he first has to earn his place within the Night's Watch. Benjen goes on to say that Jon is dreaming if he thinks that he's going to get special treatment because of his Stark blood. Family ties are put away after men of the Night's Watch swear their vows and Benjen reminds Jon that while Ned will always have a special place in his heart that he considers the men of the Night's Watch to be his brothers now.

Undaunted, Jon gets up early and still seems to be hopeful that Benjen might allow him to tagalong on the ranging but Benjen again tells Jon that it isn't going to happen. As Jon watches Benjen leave he briefly imagines a bloody death in the snow for his uncle in part because of remembering things that Tyrion has said. He seems angry with himself for having such thoughts.

Jon spends some time with Ghost and tries to make himself feel better. He misses his brothers especially Robb since he thinks of Robb as being his best friend. He also misses Sansa even though she was more distant with him in comparison to his other siblings, but most of all he misses his sister Arya. He thinks about how they were sort of kindred spirits in a way and that Arya could always make him smile. He thinks that he would give up anything to be with her now.

Interrupting his thoughts is Grenn who is still pissed about Jon supposedly breaking his wrist.

Jon looks up and sees that Grenn is accompanied by three of his friends and they're all clearly trying to intimidate Jon. Jon stands up and tells Grenn that he'll break his other wrist for him if he asks him nicely.

All of the guys are are bigger than Jon is but Jon isn't particularly scared since he's been able to defeat each one of them in the yard. One of his menacers tells him that they might just break him so Jon dares them to try. Jon then reaches for his sword but is prevented from doing so by one of the guys threatening him.

One guy called Toad complains to Jon that Jon makes the rest of them look bad. The guy who has Jon's arm is continuing to twist it but Jon refuses to cry out in pain. Toad taunts Jon about his mother and his bastard status.

Jon is super angry now and twists away from Toad so that he can attack him. He grabs Toad's throat and begins to slam his head into the ground. Two of the others pull Jon off of Toad and throw him to the ground so that they can all start kicking him.

As Jon is trying to roll away from the kicks, Donal Noye shouts at them all to break it up and tells them firmly that the yard is for fighting and if any of them try to fight in his armory again then they're going to have to deal with him and it isn't going to be pretty.

The guys all try to make it seem like Jon is the problem and start accusing him of a bunch of bullshit.

Noye sends the two with minor injuries to be seen by Maester Aemon and tells the rest to return to their cells. He then asks Jon to stay behind.

As the other guys leave they're giving him 'this isn't over' expressions but Jon doesn't seem to really notice.

Once they're alone, Noye tells Jon that the Night's Watch needs every man it has even miserable douchebags like Toad. He tells Jon that he isn't going to win any points with the Night's Watch by killing a man like that.

Jon replies to Noye that Toad was talking shit about his mother and Noye is all 'Yeah, I heard him call your mother a whore. What's your point?' Bristling, Jon declares that Eddard Stark wasn't the sort of man to cavort around with whores but Noye cuts him off and tells him that Ned wasn't so honorably that he was incapable of fathering a bastard. Jon can't think of a reply to this so simply asks if he may leave.

Noye isn't done with Jon though so he tells him that he can go when Noye says he can. Jon decides to go into moody teen mode so Noye snaps at him to pay attention and look at him when he's talking to him.

Noye tells Jon that words aren't going to turn his mother into a whore and that his mother was whatever she was and that's that. He also points out that there are men on the Wall whose mothers were whores so maybe that should give Jon some perspective.

Jon doesn't really seem to care though and stubbornly thinks to himself that his mother was no whore even though he knows nothing about her.

Noye wants to know if Jon really thinks that he had it rough being the bastard of some important lord and mentions men who are bastards who have gone on to do well and rise high within the Night's Watch.

Again, Jon doesn't really seem to care about any of what Noye is telling him and confesses to Noye that he hates it there on the Wall. Noye isn't exactly sympathetic and tells Jon that this is the way it is and that he's there for life like the rest of them so he'd better get used to it and suck it up.

Jon thinks it's all well and good for Noye to talk to him about being at the Wall for life when Noye only joined up with the Night's Watch after he'd lost his arm during the siege of Storm's End. Noye had the chance to live and have all kinds of experiences that Jon won't be able to have because he's joining the Night's Watch at such a young age.

Noye is again basically telling Jon that life at the Wall is what it is and if Jon doesn't alter his behavior that one of his new brothers is going to end up slitting his throat in his sleep one day. Jon retorts that these men aren't his brothers and tells Noye that the other guys are all mad because Jon is better at fighting than they are.

Noye decides to check Jon now and tells him that the other guys don't like him because Jon acts like he thinks that he's better than they are so to the others it comes across like Jon is a bastard who thinks that he might as well be a great lord. He reminds Jon that he's a bastard as if Jon has forgotten and then adds that Jon is a bully on top of that.

Jon is outraged that he's being labeled as a bully and tries to defend himself saying that those four boys had come after him and he was literally just in a situation where it was four against one.

Realizing that Jon isn't getting it Noye tells Jon that he's been humiliating these guys in the yard and that he's essentially going above and beyond in the way that he's showing that he's a better fighter than the rest. He's leaving these guys feeling ashamed and Noye wants to know if this is what Jon is going for when he's fighting them in the yard. Jon does feel proud of himself for doing well when it comes to fighting but Noye wants to know if his victories feel so sweet knowing that he's had more advantages in life than all of these other guys, Jon's bastard status notwithstanding.

Jon is starting to understand where the other new recruits are coming from now and admits that he hadn't considered what Noye has now brought to his attention. Noye tells him that he needs to start thinking more if he doesn't want to have to sleep with a dagger next to his bed and tells Jon that he may leave.

After Jon has left the armory he gazes up at the Wall and thinks about some of its history. It's said to be the largest structure ever built by men and is nearly seven hundred feet tall.

As he stood outside the armory looking up, Jon felt almost as overwhelmed as he had that day on the kingsroad, when he’d seen it for the first time. The Wall was like that. Sometimes he could almost forget that it was there, the way you forgot about the sky or the earth underfoot, but there were other times when it seemed as if there was nothing else in the world. It was older than the Seven Kingdoms, and when he stood beneath it and looked up, it made Jon dizzy. He could feel the great weight of all that ice pressing down on him, as if it were about to topple, and somehow Jon knew that if it fell, the world fell with it.

As Jon is thinking about the Wall, Tyrion comes up from behind him and says that looking at the Wall makes one wonder about what lies beyond it. Jon doesn't think there's anything of consequence beyond the Wall and gets annoyed when Tyrion calls him Lord Snow.

Tyrion gives Jon another pep talk and tells him that it's a mistake to let anyone think that the nickname bothers him and says that he should make the name his own.

They go into the common hall for dinner and Jon doesn't want to sit with any of his new brothers so he and Tyrion end up eating on their own. Tyrion asks Jon about the absence of Ghost and Jon explains that he has to keep Ghost chained up in the old stables during training otherwise he and Ghost are together most of the time.

Tyrion brings up the fact that Benjen has been gone for too long and Jon admits that Benjen said that he would return by Jon's nameday which has apparently already passed.

It seems that Benjen was sent to find Ser Waymar Royce and the men who accompanied him, and Tyrion comments that a lot of rangers seems to have gone missing lately. He makes a joke about grumpkins and then complains about the poor quality of the stew that they're being served.

Alliser Thorne interrupts Jon's meal and tells him that he's wanted by the Lord Commander. Jon is totally surprised and wants to know why Mormont could possibly want to speak with him and wonders if it has to do with Benjen. Thorne tells Jon that he isn't used to having his commands questioned by bastards and refuses to tell Jon what Mormont wants of him.

Tyrion intervenes at this point and tells Thorne to give Jon a break a tell him why Jon is being summoned before the Lord Commander. Thorne eventually reveals that there was a raven from Winterfell concerning Jon's brother.

Everyone seems to think that this means the worst for Bran and Tyrion is sincere when he tells Jon how sorry he is.

Jon runs to the keep of the Lord Commander and immediately asks about Bran. Mormont gives Jon the letter and Jon is relieved to see that Bran is awake and is going to live. Mormont points out that Bran won't be able to walk again but Jon wants to focus on the fact that Bran is going to live.

Elated to hear about Bran, Jon runs back into the common hall so that Tyrion can read the note saying that Bran is going to live.

Other people are curious to know why Jon is so happy and Jon notices Grenn with his hand bandaged. Grenn tells Jon to stay away from him but Jon decides to apologize for hurting him and tells Grenn about how he once attained a similar injury from his brother Robb. He tells him that he can teach Grenn how to defend himself from a move like that in the future if Grenn wants.

Thorne overhears Jon talking to Grenn about helping him train and Thorne comments that Jon would have an easier time teaching a wolf to juggle. Jon accepts the challenge and tells Thorne that he'd love to see Ghost juggle. A shocked silence falls and then Tyrion breaks it up by laughing loudly.

Thorne is the only person present who isn't amused and tells "Lord Snow" that he's just made a serious mistake.

Edited May 4, 2015 by Avaleigh

Holmbo · May 4, 2015

It's interesting to read about Jon and Thorne now when their relationship to each other is so up in the air on the show (at least as of episode three, I haven't seen the most recent one yet).

Though I have a bit of a problem with Jon staying at the wall at this point. It feels just plot motivated that he doesn't leave. I'm sure there would be some of Ned's bannermen that would take him in if he went to one of them asking.

Favorite thing: "As he watched his uncle lead his horse into the tunnel, Jon had remembered the things that Tyrion Lannister told him on the kingsroad, and in his mind's eye he saw Ben Stark lying dead, his blood red on the snow. The thought made him sick. What was he becoming?"

Those Lannister's are all such devil on your shoulders. Cersei and Jaime plays that role too later on too.

Though right after this mention we get Jon considering Tyrion's advice about making his weaknesses his armor which was quiet good advice.

clady · May 4, 2015

Jon leaving never occurred to me at this point. I really fell for the wall being his best chance at having a fulfilling life. I think if he had went to a banner man he would just be Ned's bastard and he didn't want that. I don't think the label has gone away like he wanted or hoped though.

DigitalCount · May 4, 2015

He'd also be the guy who couldn't hack it on the wall, so he just quit when he realized it wasn't a vacation. If he wanted respect, which I think he definitely did, he wouldn't get it by leaving. All he'd get would be another nickname.

polyhymnia · May 4, 2015

The training day is at an end because Thorne tells them he can't take dealing with their collective incompetence for a moment longer. Thorne tells them some more about how much they suck and then everyone heads back to the armory.

This part of the synopsis made me laugh - Thorne is every drill sergeant everywhere. On some level, I feel a little for Thorne even though he is an ass because he really does have an impossible task, especially given what they are truly up against (maybe, eventually).

I like this chapter because it also reminds you that Jon really is still a kid, with the surliness of most adolescents even though there is really no adolescence for most in Westeros.

I wonder if his brief "vision" of Benjen was an actual warging vision, in retrospect.

Catelyn's decision making looks even worse on re-read. She is about to start a war on the word of two men that she does not trust from the get-go. Trying to figure out Baelish or Varys through other people's POV is fun.

Holmbo · May 4, 2015

Jon leaving never occurred to me at this point. I really fell for the wall being his best chance at having a fulfilling life. I think if he had went to a banner man he would just be Ned's bastard and he didn't want that. I don't think the label has gone away like he wanted or hoped though.

Maybe it does make sense then. To me it just seemed a bit forced that he's so unsatisfied and still doesn't even think about alternatives.

clady · May 4, 2015

Polyhymnia-you are so right about Cat. During this reread all I kept thinking is this is all her fault. She was making decisions on the fly and unfortunately, in hindsight, they were bad ones.

Avaleigh · May 6, 2015

Eddard IV

The royal party has finally arrived at King's Landing and Ned is understandably exhausted from the long journey and wants nothing more than to bathe, eat, and get some much needed sleep, but he is instead informed that he is wanted because Grand Maester Pycelle has called a meeting of the small council.

Ned snaps at the messenger at first that tomorrow would be a better time for a meeting but then decides it's better to not start offending people right off the bat so he agrees to go to the meeting after he gets changed and presentable. The problem is that his clothes are in wagons that haven't arrived yet so he ends up having to borrow somebody else's clothes for the meeting.

A steward from the Red Keep informs Ned that he's going to be living in Jon Arryn's old rooms in the Tower of the Hand.

Ned gives instructions to his steward Vayon Poole to help Sansa and Arya settle in and explains that he has to rush off to a small council meeting. He adds that Arya isn't allowed to go exploring and tells him to have Jory make sure that the girls remain in their bedchambers.

Ned shows up in his borrowed clothes and four members of the small council are waiting for him. The first of the group to welcome him is Lord Varys. It's clear that Ned, like Catelyn, isn't a fan of Varys and I guess Varys doesn't help matters by immediately telling Ned that they've all been lighting candles for Prince Joffrey because of the business with Nymeria. Varys also leaves stains from his cosmetic powder on Ned's clothes and Ned thinks to himself that Varys smells like flowers on a grave.

Ned heads over to where Renly and Littlefinger are and thinks to himself how much Renly looks like Robert did when he was younger. Ned can't help but comment on the likeness and Littlefinger takes the opportunity to point out that Renly is a lot better dressed and mockingly adds that Renly spends more on his wardrobe than half of the ladies at court do on theirs. Renly doesn't seem too bothered by Littlefinger's comments though and cattily replies that Petyr is just a fashion victim.

Ned's attention turns to Littlefinger and Ned picks up an insolent vibe off of him seconds into the conversation. The topic quickly turns to the time Littlfinger got his ass handed to him by Ned's brother Brandon so Varys scurries over to listen to the icy exchange and Renly seems amused by all of it.

Ready to change the subject and already tired of Littlefinger, Ned greets Grand Maester Pycelle and apologizes for keeping everyone waiting. As everyone takes their seats Ned is seized with the feeling that he doesn't belong.

Wondering if they should wait for Robert and Ser Barristan, Ned finds out that Robert isn't exactly big on attending small council meetings so they should probably start with out him.

To Ned's surprise and frustration he learns that Robert has commanded that the small council organize a grand tourney in honor of Ned's appointment as Hand. Upset at the idea of an extravagant tourney being held in his name, Ned grows even more outraged when he learns that the treasury has been empty for years and that the Crown is in debt to the tune of millions in gold to House Lannister, the Iron Bank of Braavos, the Faith, and even a few dodgy Tyroshi trading cartels.

Ned is in complete WTF mode now and wants to know how in the world it's possible that there's no money when Aerys Targaryen left behind a treasury full of gold. Ned knows that Jon Arryn wouldn't just carelessly spend the realm into ruin so Pycelle speaks up to say that Robert does whatever it is that he wants to do and doesn't really concern himself with things like debts and expenses.

Ned resolves to speak to Robert personally to tell him that the realm cannot afford the cost of a feast and tourney, but Renly makes it plain that the rest of them are going to proceed as though the tourney is a go since it's likely that Robert will insist on making it happen and Robert typically gets his way.

Overwhelmed and increasingly frustrated, Ned decides to call the meeting to an end and says that they can talk about anything else tomorrow. He's over it and doesn't wait for a reply from anyone before rising, quickly nodding at them, and heading out the door.

Once outside, Ned starts thinking about everything that happened on the Trident with his daughters, Joffrey, and the direwolves and thinks about how heartbroken both daughters are over the incident. Sansa blames Arya and tells Arya that it's Nymeria who should have been killed. Arya for her part is especially devastated over the death of her friend Mycah and has been silently brooding about it all ever since. Ned dreams about a frozen hell that's reserved for Starks.

As he's about to head back to the Tower of the Hand, Littlefinger catches Ned and tells him that Catelyn is waiting for him. Ned thinks that Littlefinger is trying to deceive him and insists that Catelyn is at Winterfell. Littlefinger is bored of trying to convince Ned that he's telling the truth and it's only when he threatens to keep Catelyn for himself that Ned reluctantly decides to follow him.

Still suspicious, Ned follows Littlefinger and finds himself doing some unexpected rock climbing that actually makes Ned a little nervous once he sees how steep the drop would be if he were to fall. Littlefinger teases Ned a bit for growing older and slower and then the two set off on horses so that they can go into the city.

When they arrive at a brothel, Ned is furious and thinks that Littlefinger has been playing with him. Even though Ned has him by the shoulders, Littlefinger still decides to taunt Ned a bit more and tells him that his wife is inside of the brothel. Ned is almost seeing red at this point and slams Littlfinger against a wall. He then takes out his dagger and holds it menacingly under Littlefinger's throat.

A voice calls out at Ned to stop and Ned is then shocked to see Ser Rodrik running towards him. Ned is still confused but he puts his dagger away and follows Littlefinger into the brothel. Littlefinger tells Ned that it would be helpful if he could actually pretend for a moment as though he has interest in the women at the brothel but Ned ignores this suggestion especially once he sees that it's unlikely that he'll be recognized.

Catelyn is waiting for Ned in a room and immediately runs into his arms upon seeing him. She tells him that Petyr has been keeping her up to date on the news so she's heard about what happened with their daughters and the prince. Ned asks her what she's doing there and wonders if Bran is dead but can't bring himself to say the words. Catelyn tells him that she is there because of Bran but it isn't what Ned thinks. Ned sees that her hands have been injured and again wants to know what is going on.

Catelyn shows Ned the dagger and says that it was used to try to have him killed. She then tells Ned the whole story and Ned is thankful to Bran's wolf for saving him and starts questioning himself internally about his decision to kill Lady.

Ned doesn't think that it makes sense that Tyrion would want Bran dead and Littlefinger quickly jumps in and says that Tyrion wouldn't have been working alone. Ned wonders if the Cersei or gods forbid even Robert had anything to do with the plot. Littlefinger thinks it's most likely that Robert did not know of the plot and points out that Robert has a tendency to go deaf and blind to the things he doesn't want to know about.

The image of Mycah's face almost being split in half floats into Ned's head and he then thinks of how Robert had nothing to say about the matter.

Littlefinger advises Ned and Catelyn to forget about the attempt and to basically let sleeping dogs lie. Ned says that Littlefinger is just as much of a fool now as he was that day he tried to challenge Brandon with a sword if he thinks that Ned could just let an attempt on his son's life go.

“A fool I may be, Stark . . . yet I’m still here, while your brother has been moldering in his frozen grave for some fourteen years now. If you are so eager to molder beside him, far be it from me to dissuade you, but I would rather not be included in the party, thank you very much.”

Littlefinger tells Ned that even though he finds the Starks tiresome in general, he's never been able to refuse Catelyn anything and is willing to help keep him alive for her sake.

Catelyn explains to Ned that she's told Littlefinger about their suspicions about Jon Arryn's death and while Ned is far from pleased to hear that Catelyn has confided in Littlefinger, he does think to himself that they need the help and acknowledges that Littlefinger was once like his wife's brother.

Ned wants to know if Varys knows about the situation and Catelyn tells him that she's not a complete idiot and that Varys has ways of finding things out on his own. She goes so far as to claim that Varys must practice some dark art that keeps him in the loop because it's beyond simply having spies. She swears that there's no way that Littlefinger could have heard the conversation between Rodrik and Aron Santagar yet he somehow he knew about their conversation. She admits that she fears him.

Littlefinger tells them to worry more about the Lannisters than Varys.

Ned did not need Littlefinger to tell him that. He was thinking back to the day Arya had been found, to the look on the queen’s face when she said, We have a wolf, so soft and quiet. He was thinking of the boy Mycah, of Jon Arryn’s sudden death, of Bran’s fall, of old mad Aerys Targaryen dying on the floor of his throne room while his life’s blood dried on a golden blade.

Ned tells Catelyn that she should return to Winterfell and thinks that for all they know other assassins could be sent so it's probably better for her to be back there for Bran, Robb, and Rickon. Catelyn tentatively puts out the idea of a visit with Sansa and Arya but Littlefinger and Ned both say there's no way.

Ned and Cat kiss each other goodbye while Littlefinger watches and asks them if they'd like to have a room. Catelyn asks Petyr if she and Ned can have a moment alone and he tells her not to be too long because the absences of Ned and Littlefinger will eventually be noted.

Catelyn goes over to Petyr, takes his hands, and tells him that she feels as though she's found the brother that she thought she'd lost. Littlefinger smiles at her and tells her that they'll keep his sentimentality a secret since he's spent a lot of time at court building up a reputation for being wicked and cruel.

Ned gives short but polite thanks to Littlefinger as well but Littlefinger makes some dismissive comment before giving the Starks their requested privacy.

Ned gives Catelyn instructions on how to prepare the North in case of war in addition to telling her to make sure that careful watch is placed over Theon Greyjoy since the time may come when they'll have need of Theon's father's fleet.

Catelyn is upset at the idea that it will come to war and Ned hugs her and tries to comfort her by telling her that it won't come to that. He tells her that he's going to play the game and he's going to try to find out the truth about Jon Arryn's death.

Wanting to know what Ned will do if it turns out that the Lannisters did kill Jon Arryn, Ned tells Cat that he'll go to Robert with the truth and then thinks to himself that he only hopes that the Robert he once knew will be the man who is listening.

Edited May 6, 2015 by Avaleigh

Avaleigh · May 6, 2015

I love the detail of Ned showing up in borrowed clothes because it adds to how out of place he feels and that feeling he's playing somebody else's role.

Lol about the Crown being in debt to Tyroshi drug trading cartels among other things.

Littlefinger does a good job of manipulating the Starks know doubt about that.

I wonder if Littlefinger was half hoping that Ned would fall after making that climb. I couldn't believe the creepy way he stared at Ned and Cat as they were kissing each other goodbye. Plus with them being in a brothel--it's amusing to picture what the highborns would make of such a scene if they didn't know the context.

Interesting that Ned already wants a closer watch kept on Theon.

clady · May 6, 2015

This is the last time Ned and Cat see each other.

Lady S. · May 7, 2015

I don't want be too presumptuous, and I'm so glad you're keeping this up, Avaleigh, but could we slow this down while the show is running? I'd like to discuss all 3 of these chapters, but the next one will probably be up by the time I get all my thoughts down.

Avaleigh · May 7, 2015

Sure, maybe one a week while the show is still going? So maybe I'll put the next one up on Thursday/Friday. If not give me an idea of what you were thinking.

Lady S. · May 8, 2015

Yeah, weekly sounds great until s5 ends in another five weeks. Thanks!

Holmbo · May 8, 2015

Sorry I'm being inactive in this thread right now. I'm in the final weeks of writing my master degree thesis so I don't have much time for reading at the moment.

Lady S. · May 9, 2015

The only thing I can come up with is that Summer warmed him up both physically and emotionally so he was responding to that.

It's a small detail that I doubt we'll ever get but I'd be curious about some past names of direwolves of the Kings of Winterfell. (Or maybe this info is in TWOIAF and I just haven't gotten to it yet since I just skipped around and read the stuff I was most interested in.)

The crow is kind of a dick in the way that he talks to Bran and seems like he's deliberately trying to terrify him. I get that it's all for a purpose but I kind of winced at the way he kept implying to this scared kid that he, the kid, is moments away from dying.

The World Book is pretty scant on new Northern info, but it does reveal that Bloodraven was always a dick. He's like Stannis or a less evil version of Tywin when it comes to ends justifying the means, which is just one of many reasons I don't really like the idea of Bran being his protege.

I'm surprised that Catelyn wouldn't want to explore her options as far as treatment for Bran considering how desperate she was. I'm not saying that would necessarily be wise but given her level of desperation I feel like she'd at least want to hear what some other maesters and healers might have to say.

Another small thing that stood out to me was Cersei gambling with her jewelry and then not having to suffer the consequences upon losing. That sounds just like her. Also, who wagers with the Queen if they know they can't make any money off of it?

The wagering with Cersei in a bet no one could win part sounds just as ridiculous to me as Tyrion betting against Jaime, so I wonder if LF didn't just invent that detail too. He could have told a more believable story, surely, but the guy's just a compulsive risk taker who I guess knew the Starks were easy to fool. On that note, I don't think Cat's line about not trusting Varys and LF can be given too much weight. She definitely trusts LF, she just didn't want to open up to him because they hadn't seen each other in 15 years and didn't exactly part well, so she really doesn't know how things stand with him but then very wrongly comes to believes he's still like a little brother to her. I think there's some misplaced residual guilt going on with her for friendzoning him and burning that letter out of duty to her father or whatever, and that leads later to her frustrating refusal to see how LF fooled her. But I don't really blame her for not getting it here that he's stirring shit up for his own agenda and holding a grudge. It's not a normal grudge, a normal guy would not stew for 15 years plotting to take over the world and then pretend all was well when meeting the object of his fantasies, a normal guy would be less subtle about holding a grudge and just not wanna help her. And I think he acts less obviously skeevy with her than with Ned, so I'm not sure how she could be expected to guess he's a sociopath. As for Varys, first of all, I find it really hard to believe he really didn't know who the knife belonged to when Robert won it in public, so whatever game he's playing he's choosing to play along with LF's for the moment. And Varys weirds everyone out but I don't think there's anyone who doesn't take him at his word, Cat, Ned, Cersei, Robert, later even Tyrion and Tywin, all of them are led around by Varys without actually liking him (and sensing on some level that he's more dangerous than he lets on), and no one is genre savvy enough to get that his idea of saving the realm involves tearing it up first. Also, LF's yarn has some major holes but really, how much worse is it than Lysa accusing Cersei of murdering Jon Arryn? Of course Cersei did have a motive to murder him, but no one knows that when her message first arrives, both accusations seem to boil down to "the Lannisters are so evul!!!", yet hardly anyone accuses Maester Luwin of making judgments on the fly by encouraging Ned to investigate Lysa's claims.

Brn2bwild, I think made some observations earlier about Catelyn's concern for propriety, but she also walked around naked in Cat II and Ned was the one shocked by her practicality, and now she's agreeing to stay in a brothel once she decides LF is trying to help her. So that's why I think she doesn't so much think courtesy is vital the way Sansa does, but just takes her duties in the patriarchy pretty seriously and thinks her daughters need to learn to do the same to have a good future because it's what she did.

ETA: So, Jon III, I have to agree with the sentiment of enjoying how much of a moody adolescent Jon is here. Most of the time he handles setbacks so well that it's nice to have him being human and spending however many days/weeks being kinda a dick taking out all his frustrations on Grenn and the rest. It's like how he seems so mature and wise in Bran's PoV, then when we get his own first PoV it leads to him getting drunk and running out of the feast crying, being very much a teenager, and I think his impetuous mood swings still come off better than Robb childlishly waving his sword in the air (sheesh).

Also, I think his disdain toward his fellow recruits is very undeserved but it does feel like Uncle Ben and Ned should have prepared him better. Benjen tries to persuade him he's not old enough yet, but never explains that they can't really have the same relationship at Castle Black as they would on Winterfell visits. He just takes Jon to the Wall and then goes back to work without a word, apparently not even planning to say goodbye like tv Benjen did until Jon got him cornered.

The thing I wanted to mention was how he goes berserker on Toad during the fight when he calls Jon's mama a whore, and how he keeps insisting to Donal Noye that Ned would never be with a prostitute. His conception and the levels of possible shame and dishonor involved therein is clearly a hot button issue for him. The combination of his stepmother's coldness, Ned's absolute secrecy, and the fact that everything else he knew of Ned showed him as 115% honorable, have all really done a number on the kid. He spent his whole life wearing the shame of his conception for all to see through his name and believing the adultery that produced him was the one time Ned really let his precious honor fall. That's why, more than any other reason, he wanted to be in the Night's Watch, to prove himself an honorable Stark in the other traditional Stark place where bastardy doesn't matter so much, and thereby make up for all the shrouded shame of his conception. When Benjen told him in Jon I about blah blah no women, life of honor and duty, Jon's defensive retort was about how even bastards have honor. And another part of his mama issues here is that I think he didn't not care about the celibacy stipulation, it was actually probably part of the appeal to him, to prove that he, who was born of shameful lust, can resist his shameful urges. This I think comes up a lot more later with Ygritte, but Jon's thinking and his sexual hang-ups really reminds me of religious kids I knew growing up who took abstinence very seriously and couldn't acknowledge sexuality as normal and not wrapped up in sin vs. marriage. Book Jon, I don't think would ever even set foot into Ros's brothel. It probably doesn't help that all of the eligible non-noblewomen in the Winterfell area would be in 4.5yrs-older Theon's dating pool first, and Theon treats his dishonorable womanizing (and possible bastard-fathering) rather proudly, while Jon would never want to be like Theon.

He would have to remember that he was no longer in Winterfell, where only the king stood higher; here, he was but first among equals.

No, Ned, you're deputy king with almost all his powers when he's not on the job, it really is the case that only Robert stands higher, the other councilors are definitely not your equals. He really is out of his depth right from the start. And c'mon, why get hung up on one tourney when there's already a mountain of debt? He didn't come there to balance the budget.

The way Littlefinger leads Ned down to the river is the same way Sansa gets there with Ser Dontos, isn't it?

"If the queen had a role in this or, gods forbid, the king himself . . . no, I will not believe that." Yet even as he said the words, he remembered that chill morning on the barrowlands, and Robert's talk of sending hired knives after the Targaryen princess. He remembered Rhaegar's infant son, the red ruin of his skull, and the way the king had turned away, as he had turned away in Darry's audience hall not so long ago. He could still hear Sansa pleading, as Lyanna had pleaded once.

Hmmm, this is one thing there's really no reason to blame Robert for, but maybe the thought of Bobby trying to kill Bran comes up because the fear of what he'd do to Jon is ever-present even as Ned wants to believe the best of him. And then his thoughts go to Robert talking about killing Dany before she can breed more dragonspawn, and the sigh of Rhaegar's other son. But the Lyanna memory popping up feels really glaring, what is her connection to Sansa's pleas for Lady's life if all she asked for was to be buried in Winterfell?

Edited May 9, 2015 by Lady S.

Avaleigh · May 16, 2015

TYRION III

It's time for Tyrion to leave the Wall and the Lord Commander Mormont actually seems like he's going to miss him and tells Tyrion that the Wall needs some clever men like him.

Ser Alliser Thorne is more than ready for Tyrion to be off and thinks that Tyrion is mocking the men of the Watch. Tyrion assures Thorne that he's only mocking him and the other men present laugh nervously as though they're unsure how Thorne will respond to being joked around with especially someone like Tyrion.

Thorne sees that Tyrion is being a total smartass and basically asks him if he wants to take this shit outside. Tyrion decides to joke with Thorne some more so Thorne tells him that he should put some steel in his hand if Tyrion is going to continue to play around with him. Tyrion responds that he has steel in his hand in the form of a crab fork and proceeds to attempt to "duel" with Thorne right there in the Hall to the amusement of the other men. Mormont thinks it's so funny that he's actually spewing food and Thorne is so furious that he ends up walking out of the hall in a huff.

Mormont tells Tyrion that maybe he was a bit naughty by going out of his way to provoke Thorne and Tyrion thinks that Thorne should maybe go down to Mole's Town to buy a sense of humor and says that he's seen dead men with more humor than Ser Alliser Thorne.

Bowen Marsh decides to speak up for Thorne and says that he does seem to have some sense of humor judging by the names he gives the boys in the yard who are coming up. Tyrion replies that the boys probably have a few names for Thorne themselves and then actually goes so far as to say that the men present are blind if they can't see that a man like Thorne would be better suited to cleaning out stables as opposed to being fit for training and menacing young recruits to the Night's Watch.

Mormont points out that Thorne is one of the few knights who have taken the black since he's been Lord Commander so that alone makes him valuable. It is then revealed that Thorne actually fought on the side of the Targaryens during Robert's Rebellion and that he and other men like Ser Jaremy Rykker were given the choice by Tywin Lannister to join the Night's Watch or have their head end up on a Wall at King's Landing.

Listening to everything Tyrion has to say, Mormont admits that Thorne might have been speaking the truth when he stated that Tyrion was mocking them. Tyrion shrugs and thinks that everyone should probably be mocked a bit from time to time and then asks for more wine.

Bowen Marsh is surprised at how much Tyrion is capable of drinking considering his size and Maester Aemon takes this moment to say that he thinks Tyrion might well be a giant who has come among them. Tyrion says that he's never been called a giant before and seems somewhat embarrassed but also curiously touched by Maester Aemon's comments especially when Aemon makes it clear that he's being sincere. Tyrion tells Aemon that he's too kind so Aemon jokes with Tyrion and says that kind isn't a word that's used to describe him very often either making the men present break into laughter again.

Later on in the evening, Tyrion and Mormont are drinking together alone and Mormont tells Tyrion that he's going to send three men from the Night's Watch to accompany him as far as Winterfell on his journey back to King's Landing. Tyrion can tell that Mormont will want something in return and Mormont responds that he wants Tyrion to see what he can do about getting some men sent to the Wall as there are less than a thousand now and only a third of the men are capable of any real fighting.

Tyrion promises Mormont that he'll talk to the King and his family personally about the needs of the Night's Watch. What Tyrion doesn't say is that he doesn't think his words will do any good and that Robert will likely ignore him, Tywin will think he's lost his damned mind, and Jaime will probably only laugh.

They are approaching the tenth year of summer and Mormont tells Tyrion that he thinks this means they're going to be in for an extra long winter. Given everything that they're up against with all sorts of creatures in addition to winter almost being upon them, Mormont feels that they need more help now than they've ever needed before.

The turn the conversation has taken has Tyrion wishing that he could have another drink but Mormont continues to give Tyrion the lowdown on what's really going on and tells him that white walkers have been spotted by the fisherfolk down near Eastwatch by the Sea. Tyrion clearly doesn't believe it and points out that these people have claimed to see things like mermaids and whatnot.

Mormont then mentions that the mountain people are suddenly running south in great numbers and wonders what it is they're running from. He again implores Tyrion to talk to the King and his family and see what can be done about sending the Wall extra assistance.

Tyrion thanks Mormont again for being so courteous with him and decides to head back to his room to get some sleep. As he's walking back, he impulsively decides that he wants to go to the top of the Wall one last time.

On top of the Wall now, Tyrion soon runs into Jon and Ghost. Tyrion's relationship with Ghost seems to have improved and upon asking if Ghost will be inclined to bite him, Tyrion takes a moment to scratch him behind the ears.

Tyrion asks Jon about how it has been now that he's helping to train the new guys and Jon tells him that it's going really well and that they're already getting better. Jon asks Tyrion to walk with him while he patrols the Wall.

As they talk about how Tyrion will be visiting Winterfell on his journey back King's Landing, Tyrion asks Jon if there's any message that he would like to have Tyrion deliver for him. Jon has messages for both Robb and Rickon but for Bran Jon tells Tyrion that he just wants Tyrion to try to help him where he can and acknowledges that Tyrion's words personally helped him when he was feeling low about joining the Night's Watch. He thinks or at least hopes that Tyrion's words might be able to help Bran.

Tyrion seems doubtful that he'll be able to be of assistance to Bran but agrees to do what he can and explains to Jon that he understands the power of fraternal love.

Jon thanks Tyrion sincerely and then takes off his glove so that they can shake hands.

Tyrion found himself oddly touched. “Most of my kin are bastards,” he said with a wry smile, “but you’re the first I’ve had to friend.” He pulled a glove off with his teeth and clasped Snow by the hand, flesh against flesh. The boy’s grip was firm and strong.

When he had donned his glove again, Jon Snow turned abruptly and walked to the low, icy northern parapet. Beyond him the Wall fell away sharply; beyond him there was only the darkness and the wild. Tyrion followed him, and side by side they stood upon the edge of the world.

The two stare for awhile at the the Haunted Forest and the longer Tyrion stands there the more he feels that he almost finds the stories about the Others to be believable and he's suddenly feeling less amused than he'd previously been when it came to all the talk of grumpkins and snarks.

Jon comments that his uncle Benjen is out there somewhere and says that if Benjen doesn't return then he and Ghost will be the ones to go and find him. Tyrion tells Jon that he believes him and then silently wonders who will then have to go looking for Jon.

Edited May 16, 2015 by Avaleigh

Holmbo · May 17, 2015

Favorite thing: Probably Tyrion poking Thorne with his crab fork.

I keep putting a lot of notice to Thorne in these chapters because I'm curious to what role he will have in the show. I don't think that this chapter gives any clue to that though because I don't think show Thorne would want to duel Tyrion.

I love that we get names for the two redshirt Lannister guards.

Why is Mormont talking about what he's seen in his dreams? Does he have green dreams. Maybe people of westeros just consider dreams nor foretelling than we do.

I remember on my first read it wasn't until this chapter that I understood the seasons and years didn't match up. I got very confused to why they even counted years then. The reason a year is significant is because it foretells the coming off seasons. If it doesn't than it would probably be much easier measuring in months.

Avaleigh · May 17, 2015

I wonder if the grudging respect I gained for the Thorne character on the show has colored my perception a bit on his book counterpart. Book Thorne is a lot more offensive than show Thorne but I actually bristled a bit on his behalf when Tyrion basically made it seem like Thorne wasn't good for anything but cleaning up horse shit. My mind immediately flashed to the battle against the wildlings and what an asset Thorne was to the NW.

I sort of like having these moments though where "good" characters are mistaken or flat out wrong.

Favorite thing: Probably Tyrion poking Thorne with his crab fork.

I keep putting a lot of notice to Thorne in these chapters because I'm curious to what role he will have in the show. I don't think that this chapter gives any clue to that though because I don't think show Thorne would want to duel Tyrion.

Yeah, I don't think show!Thorne would have challenged Tyrion to meet him in the yard. I totally get why Tyrion thinks that Thorne is a humorless prick but I still felt for Thorne all the same especially why I consider how he ended up at the Wall because he was loyal to House Targaryen even towards the end. I totally would want to know what he'd make of knowing that Jon's father is Rhaegar. I doubt we'll ever see Thorne properly alive again but if we do this is the main thing I'd be curious about. I figure though that the next time we see him he'll be a wight.

I can't help but notice the dynamic that Tyrion has with both Jon and Aemon in this chapter. Aemon totally senses something in Tyrion. I also really like the line about how his kin are bastards but Jon is the first one he'd call a friend. As someone in favor of AJT I feel like that was a pretty clever line.

Lady S. · May 18, 2015

Tyrion's lack of respect of for the NW is really coming through, you'd think he could at least fake it with the officers if he's gonna hang out there for weeks.

The thing about book Thorne is that he's never shown actually doing anything useful for the Watch, we never even hear that he's actually gone beyond the Wall or fought any wildlings. He's just a bitter guy who got forced to the Wall by Tywin and hates all of his trainees. But is he even trying to do his job of teaching them how to be more than arrow fodder? As Donal Noye told Jon, none of the other recruits had ever held a real sword before so they really need some instruction. Y'know, actual constructive criticism about what they were doing wrong instead of just insults. I watched Spartacus over the hiatus on Netflix and the gladiator training was seriously cruel and tough, but at least their instructor actually taught them stuff. We don't have any specifics on how Ser Rodrik taught the Winterfell lads, but I doubt he just threw practice swords in their hands and let them have it with only insults and no actual direction. Book Thorne sucks and I have zero sympathy for him, Mormont should have sent him on an actual ranging years ago instead of leaving him in a job he hated and wasn't even doing well.

Sidenote, speaking of Donal Noye, it occurs to me that if Gendry had actually made it to Castle Black with Yoren, he'd have learned his paternity pretty fast since Noye would recognize his resemblance to Robert, and surely a former armorer's apprentice would find his way to Noye's forge.

My favorite part of this chapter is Jon joking again with Tyrion with his message to Robb and Tyrion's refusal to pass it along.

Edited May 18, 2015 by Lady S.

Avaleigh · May 21, 2015

ARYA II

It's dinner time in the Hand's household and Arya can tell that her father has been arguing with the Small Council again. Ned is late for dinner and comments that he doesn't mind that they all decided to start without him.

Once Ned is seated Jory begins to talk about the upcoming tourney and says that knights from all across the realm are planning to come. Ned wants to know if anybody is talking about how the tourney wouldn't even be happening if it were up to him but his comment is pretty much ignored and Septa Mordane points out that it would be odd if Ned were to forbid his daughters from attending since the tourney is being held in his honor.

Sansa is super excited to go to the tourney but Arya is less enthused and is mainly concerned that she'll have to interact with Joffrey if she goes. Sansa tells Arya that she won't be wanted at the tourney anyway and Ned gets annoyed with this and tells the girls that he's tired of the way they're constantly fighting with one another. Both girls go silent and seem unhappy that Ned is upset with them.

Frustrated and apparently ready to be alone, Ned abruptly excuses himself from the table saying that he isn't feeling very hungry.

After Ned leaves the hall the conversation about the tourney continues and everyone present seems to be looking forward to it with the exception of Arya. Sansa and Jeyne Poole are chatting happily while the men are talking about jousting and horses. Nobody talks to Arya but Arya thinks to herself that she prefers it this way. If Arya could have it her way she'd have all of her meals in her room.

Arya thinks to herself how much she misses each of her brothers especially Jon. She feels that Sansa is the only sibling that she has left and it seems that Sansa won't even talk to her unless she's forced.

Back at Winterfell, they had eaten in the Great Hall almost half the time. Her father used to say that a lord needed to eat with his men, if he hoped to keep them. “Know the men who follow you,” she heard him tell Robb once, “and let them know you. Don’t ask your men to die for a stranger.” At Winterfell, he always had an extra seat set at his own table, and every day a different man would be asked to join him. One night it would be Vayon Poole, and the talk would be coppers and bread stores and servants. The next time it would be Mikken, and her father would listen to him go on about armor and swords and how hot a forge should be and the best way to temper steel. Another day it might be Hullen with his endless horse talk, or Septon Chayle from the library, or Jory, or Ser Rodrik, or even Old Nan with her stories.

Arya used to enjoy mealtimes at Winterfell and loved listening to the talk of the men. She thinks about how much fun she used to have and of the other children that she would play with and the close dynamic she had with her father's people.

These days Arya doesn't think of her father's men as her friends anymore because of what happened with Mycah and with Lady. She basically feels betrayed by everyone and thinks about how tough talking some of them have been in the past. She also seems to resent the way that everyone else is seemingly able to laugh and move on while she's still mourning her friend.

Arya's appetite is ruined so she asks if she can leave the table but is stopped by Septa Mordane and told she has to clean her plate first. Arya tells Septa Mordane that she can clean Arya's plate and then quickly runs away while the woman shouts after her. One of the guards tries to keep Arya from getting past him but she manages to slide under his legs and run up the stairs to her room. She locks herself in and begins to cry.

Overwhelmed emotionally and feeling as though everything is her fault, Arya is blaming herself for everything and seems especially hurt that Sansa and Jeyne think she's responsible for what happened at the Trident.

Arya takes out Needle and thinks that Mycah would still be alive if only she hadn't asked him to play with her.

Suddenly, there's a loud knock on the door and Septa Mordane is demanding that Arya open up. Arya refuses and tells her to get lost so Septa Mordane tells her that Ned is going to hear about her behavior.

Arya is past caring about being in trouble and starts thinking about how she'd like nothing more than to pack her things and run away so that she can find Nymeria and then they could go back to Winterfell together. Arya wishes again that Jon was with her and thinks that if he were that she wouldn't feel so alone.

There's another knock at Arya's door and this time it's Ned who tells her that they need to talk. When Arya opens the door and looks at Ned she thinks he seems more sad than angry and this makes Arya feel worse than she was already feeling.

Ned wants to know where Arya got Needle but Arya refuses betray Jon to Ned. Ned goes on to remind Arya that a sword isn't a toy and wonders what Septa Mordane will think of Arya having a sword. Arya says she doesn't care what Septa Mordane thinks of her having a sword and confesses that she feels like she hates the woman. Ned tells her to stop and says that Septa Mordane is only doing her job. He points out that Arya certainly doesn't make the septa's job any easier.

Frustrated, Arya insists that she doesn't want to be a lady and Ned laughs at the "wildness" that he says he sees in Arya and credits it to the wolf blood that runs through their veins. He says that his brother Brandon and sister Lyanna both had it too. Ned says that Lyanna might have carried a sword if she'd been allowed to by their father and goes on to say that Arya even looks like Lyanna. Arya is shocked because she's always heard that Lyanna was beautiful but this isn't something that people ever say about her. Ned admits that Lyanna was beautiful and says that she was also incredibly willful and died too young.

Ned wants to know what Arya plans on doing with a sword anyway and jokes that he hopes that she doesn't mean to one day use it on her sister or Septa Mordane.

Arya talks about how she was trying to learn and then confesses why she feels so guilty over what happened to Mycah. Ned comforts Arya, holds her, and tells her that it wasn't her fault. Arya rants about how she hates the king, the queen, Joffrey, Sansa, and the Hound. She thinks about the lies that were told and Ned reminds Arya that they all lie sometimes and then brings up the lie Arya told when she tried to get Ned to believe that Nymeria ran off. Arya initially thinks that Jory betrayed her trust but Ned assures her that he figured it out for himself as it couldn't have been more obvious to him that her direwolf wouldn't have left her willingly.

Confessing that they'd had to throw rocks at Nymeria to get her to leave, Arya wonders if she was right to do what she did and Ned tells her that she and Jory definitely did the right thing since they ended up saving Nymeria's life. He even tells Arya that her lie was "not without honor".

Ned decides it's time for a fatherly chat and starts talking about how winter is coming so shit is about to get rough. He says that the lone wolf dies in wintertime but that the pack survives. During summertime petty squabbling isn't that big of a deal but in winter time people are much stronger together than they are apart. He tells Arya that if she has to hate then she should hate the people who really deserve it and not people Septa Mordane or Sansa. He also says that Sansa needs Arya just as much as Arya needs Sansa and that he of course needs the two of them probably more than either of them realizes.

Moved by how sad Ned seems, Arya tells him that she doesn't really hate Sansa and then thinks to herself that this is only half of a lie.

“I do not mean to frighten you, but neither will I lie to you. We have come to a dark dangerous place, child. This is not Winterfell. We have enemies who mean us ill. We cannot fight a war among ourselves. This willfulness of yours, the running off, the angry words, the disobedience . . . at home, these were only the summer games of a child. Here and now, with winter soon upon us, that is a different matter. It is time to begin growing up.”

“I will,” Arya vowed. She had never loved him so much as she did in that instant. “I can be strong too. I can be as strong as Robb.”

Ned gives Needle back to Arya and says that she can keep it. He also says again that she isn't to use the sword on Sansa. Arya promises that she won't and hugs Needle to her chest.

Three days later has her first lesson with her new "dancing master" from Braavos. The master starts her off with a heavy wooden sword and keeps referring to her as though she is a boy. He fusses a lot when it comes to her grip and tells her that she isn't holding some battle axe. Arya corrects him when he calls her a boy for the third time and the guy is basically like, whatever, gender doesn't matter when it comes to sword fighting.

For four hours Arya tries to stab Syrio Forel until she is exhausted and her body is sore and aching.

The next day is when their real work starts.

Lady S. · May 22, 2015

I have a migraine, so I'm not sure how much I can really dive into this chapter, but my favorite part is the Lyanna and wolf blood mentions. 1. It's a major R+L clue since saying Lyanna's wolf blood led to her early grave sounds like very weird victim blaming if the coupling wasn't consensual at all 2. I just find myself thinking about the "wolf blood" a lot with the Starks. Robb shows some with his stupid sword waving (and later with his grief-fueled lust) and Jon with his mood swings between bursting into tears and going berserker on people, but Ned's only real moment of impulsive hotheadedness is with Littlefinger when he thinks he was led on a wild goose chase to insult Cat. So I have a hard time imagining Ned "the Quiet Wolf" in his youth actually being that much like Robb and Jon and falling into bed with a girl against his better instincts, which is another reason I believe in R+L=J.

My other thought about the wolf blood is that I shudder to think of how a son of impulsive and lusty Brandon and faulty judgment Catelyn would have turned out, he probably would have gotten himself killed even faster than Robb in an even more horrible way.

Avaleigh · May 22, 2015

Aww, feel better Lady S!

I like the wolf blood mentions too. I don't recall any other specific mentions of wolf blood but I want to keep my eye out for any others because it does come across as being similar to the blood of the dragon and I feel like this blood thing might end up being relevant to the books overall.

If I've learned nothing else from this reread it's that the Starks cry a lot. I think they've each cried more than once so far and we're less than halfway into the first book.

I can't help but feel sorry for Arya here. There are a few things about her chapters so far that really sting and I'm surprised that I don't remember some of these things. Like everybody ignoring Arya during dinner. What the hell is that? She's the daughter of their lord, you'd think people would talk to her if for no other reason than to score points with Ned. It made me feel sad for her.

One thing I noticed is that while Arya seems to miss her brothers a lot especially Jon, she doesn't seem to miss her mother all that much.

Also, the way she thinks about how some of these guys love to talk tough but then aren't particularly helpful when it comes to protecting a lowborn person like Mycah. It's not the same as the Hound having issues with knights but I do get a similar vibe as far as the disgust Arya is feeling for the people that she once thought would always be able to protect her.

I thought it was interesting the way Ned is teaching Arya to focus her hate. Probably because of the show I attributed this more to Yoren but Ned definitely got there first. I also like that Ned tells Arya to give Septa Mordane a break even though Septa Mordane probably is a piece of work who is too hard on Arya. At the end of the day Septa Mordane is on their side.

Arya first asking Syrio Forel "Who are you?" Is that a coincidence or is that kind of a hint that points to the Faceless Man theory wrt Syrio?

I also feel bad that Arya is being blamed by Sansa and Jeyne for what happened. Jeyne gives off a mean girl vibe and it sucks that it seems like she's always giving Arya shit.

I know he was joking when Ned twice tells Arya not to stab Sansa with Needle but I can't help wondering if there was some foreshadowing here.

One last thing that jumped out at me. As uptight as I think Ned is I thought it was something that he told Arya that her lie about Nymeria was basically honorable. I think of Ned as so rigid sometimes that it's nice to see a moment like this to know that he gets that this sort of lying is okay. Obviously we know Ned is capable of lying but in general he seems to frown on it so I appreciated seeing this and also appreciated that he understands where Sansa was coming from when she lied and isn't judging he harshly for it.

I'm really looking forward to the tourney! It's been years since I've read it so it'll almost be like reading it for the first time. One of the things I remember being disappointed with as far as the tourney on the show was the lack of color. The vibrance of the color in that chapter (chapters?) is something that sticks out to me and I felt like the show was very drab in comparison. I'm pretty sure Jaime wore golden armor and there were lots of descriptions that just sounded cool and impressive at least that's how I remember it being.

Lady S. · May 22, 2015

Thanks Avaleigh, my ibuprofen is working for the moment, I might give the chapter more of a look-over this weekend. Yes, it's definitely noticeable how much more often the book Starklings shed tears.

One thing I noticed is that while Arya seems to miss her brothers a lot especially Jon, she doesn't seem to miss her mother all that much.

Sansa hardly mentions her either that I remember, and she was supposed to be the daughter close to Cat. But, yeah, Arya obviously had a more strained relationship with her mother.

Arya first asking Syrio Forel "Who are you?" Is that a coincidence or is that kind of a hint that points to the Faceless Man theory wrt Syrio?

I hate those theories tbh, that's another of my UOs. I think, if anything, it's just a foreshadowing clue for the FM's later appearance in Arya's sl. Or possibly he developed the Faceless Men later based partly on this Braavosi foundation, Jaqen and co. are part of the worldbuilding are part of the world building that feels especially made up as Martin goes along to me.

Edited May 22, 2015 by Lady S.

Holmbo · May 22, 2015

Poor Arya. This is really the start of her loosing her innocense.

I'm not a fan of Syrio = FM either. I think it would kinda ruin the Syrio character if he was and I like him. He's described very diffferent in show and books but I read all his dialogue in the show voice. "The steal must be part of your arm. Can you drop part of your arm?"

My favorite thing in this chapter is probably Ned's habit of eating with his men and his servants.

“Know the men who follow you,” she heard him tell Robb once, “and let them know you. Don’t ask your men to die for a stranger.”

I wonder about Ned's reasoning for giving Arya sword lessons. What was the purpose of it? Just to cheer her up for the moment?

Feel better S!

Edited May 22, 2015 by Holmbo

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