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

[Avaleigh]

Bran V

 

It's snowing lightly outside and Bran is finally getting the chance to ride again using the new saddle that Tyrion designed for him. Robb and Theon are both with him in addition to four guardsmen and the direwolves Summer and Grey Wind. Maester Luwin has come along as well and is riding along on a donkey. It seems that Maester Luwin isn't comfortable with the idea of not being on hand just in case something should happen to Bran as he's riding so, he asked if he could come along in order to be on the safe side.

 

Bran sort of wishes that he could spend some time with Robb alone but there's too much concern that Bran could get injured and that Robb would then have to leave him to go and get help.

 

They ride through the village and Bran sees that it's still relatively empty. Once the winter season arrives though the village is expected to fill up with people from northern farms and holdfasts and then they'll be there for the duration of winter. Bran has never seen the village full of people before but Maester Luwin says that the end of summer is near so the village should be filling up pretty soon.

 

The presence of the direwolves unnerves some of the villagers but most of them have grown used to the sight of them accompanying the Stark boys and there are people who bend the knee to them upon seeing them. Bran notes that Robb acknowledges these people with a "lordly nod".

 

They pass an alehouse and Theon calls out to one of the serving girls who works there. The girl immediately blushes and covers her face after this and Theon makes it clear to Robb that he's had sex with this girl, Kyra, and is about to go into more detail about a sexual encounter that sounds like it might have been a threesome, but Robb asks Theon not to tell him where Bran can hear.

 

Bran looked away and pretended not to have heard, but he could feel Greyjoy's eyes on him. No doubt he was smiling. He smiled a lot, as if the world were a secret joke that only he was clever enough to understand. Robb seemed to admire Theon and enjoy his company, but Bran had never warmed to his father's ward.

 

Robb encourages Bran and tells him how well he thinks he's riding. Bran wants to go faster so they begin galloping and Bran is happy and almost feels as though he's flying.

 

The direwolves have disappeared into the woods and Bran asks Robb if he heard Summer's howling the night before. Robb admits that Grey Wind was acting restless too and says it's almost like the direwolves know or sense things. He trails off as he says this and then tells Bran that he's never sure how much of the truth he should reveal to him saying that he sometimes wishes that Bran were older.

 

Bran tells him that eight is old enough and Robb tells Bran that he received a raven from King's Landing and Bran's first thought is "dark wings, dark words". Bran thinks about the messages that they've received lately telling them about how Benjen is missing and about how Catelyn kidnapped Tyrion. Bran think to himself that he liked the little man Tyrion but that the name Lannister in general gives him the creeps and he feels like there's something about the Lannisters that he should remember but when he tries to think on it, nothing comes apart from him feeling dizzy and a little ill.

 

Still, Bran tries to be hopeful and asks if the raven was from their mother and whether or not she's coming home.

 

The message is from Alyn in King's Landing and it contains the news that Jory, Wyl, and Heward are all dead and were murdered by the Kingslayer.

 

Bran feels as though he's been punched in the stomach and thinks back to all the times when Jory would chase him over the roofs of Winterfell. He wants to know why anyone would possibly want to kill Jory of all people.

 

There's more news and Robb tells Bran about Ned's fall and injury to his leg during the incident where their father's men were killed. Robb swears to Bran that this incident will not be forgotten and tells Bran that Theon has already suggested that Robb call in the bannermen to House Stark. 

 

Bran says that only a lord can call in the banners so Theon brings up the fact that Robb will be lord if Ned dies. Bran yells at Theon and insists that Ned won't die. Robb also agrees that Ned won't die. Bran comments that he wishes their mother were back.

 

Bran also wants to know if Maester Luwin thinks that calling the banners is a good idea. Theon speaks insultingly of Luwin and says that he's too timid but Bran points out that their parents always listened to Luwin's counsel. Robb says that he listens to Luwin too and adds that he listens to everyone.

 

Whatever pleasure Bran felt that day from the thrill of riding is gone and he just wants to go back to the castle. He says he feels cold. Robb says they should find the wolves and asks if Bran can hang for a bit longer. Bran tells Robb that he can go as long as Robb can and it's clear that Bran doesn't like the idea of appearing to be weak in front of his brother.

 

They ride for awhile and eventually the others fall back from Robb and Bran. When they get near a stream of rushing water, Robb notices that Bran has tears in his eyes and Bran asks Robb if he remembers when Jory took the two of them and Jon to fish for trout. Robb remembers and sounds sad. Bran thinks about how he didn't catch anything that day but that Jory gave him a fish that he'd caught while they were on their way back to Winterfell.

 

Bran wants to know if they'll ever see Jon again and Robb says there's no reason they shouldn't since Benjen was allowed to visit Winterfell.

 

They eventually hear Summer howling and Robb thinks it's because the wolves have made a kill. Bran wants to go with Robb but Robb thinks that he'll retrieve the direwolves faster if he goes on his own.

 

Bran is on his own now and he wonders what's keeping Theon, Luwin and the rest. Bran hears the noise of someone approaching and turns thinking that he's going to see his friends only to see that he's suddenly being approached by a group of grimy looking people.

 

Bran greets them politely if warily and is immediately conscious of how rich he looks in comparison to this ragged band of people who don't have the look of being farmers or foresters.

 

One of the men wants to know if Bran is all alone and Bran insists that he isn't. He says that his brother should be back any moment and that he's traveling with his guard as well. The man has his eye on Bran's silver pin. Bran thinks about how his father once told him that there are no men more dangerous than those who have chosen to abandon the Night's Watch because they won't flinch from committing any crime since they essentially have nothing to lose at that point.

 

The man asks for the pin again and then they say that they want Bran's horse as well. Bran says no and tries to explain that he can't get off of his horse. One of the women in the group sees that Bran is telling the truth and asks Bran if he's a cripple.

 

Bran's eyes flash at being labeled a cripple so he firmly tells him that he's Brandon Stark of Winterfell and that they'd better let go of his horse or he'll see that they all die. One of the men laughs at this and says that he must be a Stark because only a Stark would be so foolish as to threaten in a situation like this.

 

One of the women suggests that they castrate Bran but another woman named Osha suggests that Bran would be worth a lot more alive than dead and wonders what Mance would give them if they were able to deliver him a hostage who is a relative of Benjen Stark. The big man of the group doesn't give a fuck about Mance and says that pleasing Mance isn't going to do anything about the White Walker situation from which they are apparently running.

 

The guy then starts to cut the straps of Bran's saddle and ends up cutting into Bran's leg as he does this. Bran doesn't feel pain but he sees the blood beginning to flow. The guy seems surprised by this for some reason.

 

Suddenly, Robb is there and he tells the men that if they surrender now Robb will grant them a quick death.

 

They recognize that Robb is Bran's brother and one of the women asks if Robb seriously means to fight them. The other woman Osha tells Robb that he's outnumbered six to one so why doesn't he throw down his sword and surrender so that they can take the horse and the venison and then Bran and Robb can be on their way back home.

 

Robb gives a whistle and the two direwolves make their appearance onto the scene. Summer growls. Grey Wind has fresh blood around his mouth from their recent kill.

 

One fool of a man doesn't seem afraid of the direwolves at all and seems to think that he's going to be able to make some sort of cloak out of their skins. He gives the order to take them and the action kicks off.

 

Robb shouts "Winterfell!" and he almost instantly kills one of the men with a sword to the face. One man manages to grab the reins of Robb's horse but is taken out by Grey Wind about a second later. Summer sinks his teeth into the belly of the stupid woman who wanted to castrate Bran and another of the men tries to run for it but is soon brought down by Grey Wind.

 

Only the big man is left now so he grabs Bran and holds a knife to his throat. He tells Robb to back up or he'll cut Bran's throat. Robb reins in his horse and drops his sword arm. The big man tells Robb to call off the direwolves so Robb calls Summer and Grey Wind over to him. Grey Wind goes over but Summer stays where he is and continues to growl.

 

Osha is the only other one of the six attackers who is still alive and Bran sees her struggling to crawl to her fallen spear. She uses her spear to get back to her feet. The big man orders Osha to kill the direwolves and grab Robb's sword but she tells him he can do it himself because she isn't getting any closer to those monstrous animals.

 

The big man seems unsure of how to proceed now but orders Robb off of his horse and Robb decides to comply. He then tries to get Robb to kill the wolves but Robb refuses to move and Bran screams at Robb not to do it. Bran is certain that the man will kill them anyway after the wolves are dead. The man pulls Bran's hair and makes him cry out in pain as he asks him to shut the hell up.

 

As Bran is having his hair pulled and is being told to STFU the big man suddenly ends up getting an arrow in the chest causing him to release Bran. He dies immediately.

 

Osha throws down her spear and pleads for mercy. 

 

Maester Luwin goes over to Bran to see if he's okay and to see about his injury.

 

Theon is smiling at his handy work and says that a dead enemy is a thing of beauty. Robb tells Theon that Jon always said Theon was an ass and says that he ought to have Theon chained up in the yard so that Bran can start taking practice shots at him.

 

Theon tells Robb that Robb should be thanking him for saving Bran's life and Robb asks Theon about what would have happened if he'd missed? There are so many things that might have gone wrong and it's frustrating to Robb that Theon isn't getting this. Theon has no reply and tries to basically shrug it off but has stopped smiling.

 

Robb then goes off on his men for a bit wanting to know where they were since they'd been right behind them. The men say that they were following but then Theon spotted a turkey so that distracted them for a bit. Theon protests that he had no way of knowing that Robb would leave Bran alone. Robb looks at Theon and definitely seems to still be angry with him.

 

Maester Luwin is attending to Bran and comments that two of the attackers were deserters from the Night's Watch. Robb gives the order to have the men's heads sent to the Wall.

 

Osha again pleads to Robb for her life and says that she isn't an oathbreaker like the men who fled the Wall. Theon tells Robb to have Osha fed to the direwolves and Osha and the guardsmen can't help but look over at the woman who got chomped on by Summer.

 

Maester Luwin suggests that Osha might be worth questioning so Robb agrees to have her taken back to the castle. It seems that whether or not Osha will live will depend on what sort of information she has to give them.

Edited July 12, 2015 by Avaleigh

[Constantinople]

The old "NW deserters are executed because they're desperate, and they're desperate because NW deserters are executed" line of reasoning.

 

As an American, GRRM should have known better than to name a character after the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.  It would be like a British writer naming a character "Health and Safety".

 

I think Theon was right to shoot the man holding Bran.

[Avaleigh]

We had more Stark tears. I think that's every chapter so far.

I was feeling a little dismayed that we were on a Bran chapter but I really ended up enjoying this. Not only does Ned love his men but his children do as well. I was also reminded of people wondering about why anyone would try to kill Bran when Bran wonders why anyone would want to kill Jory.

I can see both sides of the Robb/Theon clash here but I ultimately think that Theon did the right thing. Robb was right though to tell him off for being so reckless.

I feel like Robb seemed more intrerested in sparing Osha's life once Theon gave his unmerciful opinion that she should be killed by the direwolves.

Theon never fit in at Winterfell. Bran senses it even now. Theon has to have felt that he wasn't ultimately part of the family and I'm sure some part of it would sting. Am I correct in thinking that Theon has lived at Winterfell for longer than Bran has been alive. I'm no Theon apologist by any means but I don't know that I agree with the line Sansa had about Bran and Rickon being Theon's brothers. He had that with Robb only.

Jon's status might have been lower in certain ways but he was certainly better at forming positve relationships with people at Winterfell than Theon was.

Lol that the Starks even have a reputation among the wildlings for being foolishly brave.

[Avaleigh]

Tyrion V

Tyrion is roughing it in one of the terrifying sky cells in the Eyrie and his gaoler Mord is a monstrous looking dude who has a personality that matches his appearance. He torments Tyrion by keeping the food that he has for him just out of rea........ch and because Tyrion doesn't trust that the turnkey won't try to push him out of the open cell if he really tries to make a grab for the plate, Mord pretends that Tyrion must not have any interest in eating so he throws the food Tyrion would have had into the open air so that it can fall down the side of the mountain.

Furious that Mord is being such an asshole, Tyrion yells at him and tells the guy that he hopes he dies, earning himself a rough kick in the ribs. Tyrion continues to yell at Mord in spite of this and tells him that he swears that he'll kill him himself. Mord leaves and Tyrion reflects for a moment on how his big mouth can sometimes get him into trouble.

The sky cell is small, cold, and uncomfortable and Tyrion thinks to himself that he'd rather be in one of the cells in the bowels of Casterly Rock. Mord has taken the shadowskin cloak that he won off of Marillion so Tyrion only has a thin blanket to help him deal with the constant wind and cold.

It seems that Mord also tortures Tyrion by telling him that he'll one day choose to "fly" in order to finally escape the sky cell.

The Arryns kept the only dungeon in the realm where the prisoners were welcome to escape at will. That first day, after girding up his courage for hours, Tyrion had lain flat on his stomach and squirmed to the edge, to poke out his head and look down. Sky was six hundred feet below, with nothing between but empty air. If he craned his neck out as far as it could go, he could see other cells to his right and left and above him. He was a bee in a stone honeycomb, and someone had torn off his wings.

Possibly worst of all is that the sky cell has a sloping floor that makes Tyrion afraid to go to sleep because of the fear of possibly rolling over while he's sleeping and falling right out of the cell to his death. Sky cells have been known to drive men mad. In Tyrion's cell, some former prisoner wrote "Gods Save Me" on the wall in what appears to be blood.

Tyrion thinks to himself that he should have kept his mouth shut and that if he had then maybe he wouldn't be in this current predicament.

Prior to being sent to the sky cell, Tyrion got to meet little Robert Arryn and Robert was told that Tyrion is a "bad" man by his mother Lysa. Lysa tells her son that Tyrion killed his father. Tyrion can't believe that he's being accused of yet another murder of a prominent person so, he sarcastically asks if he did indeed kill Jon Arryn where he possibly could have found the time given all the other stuff he's been accused of lately. Tyrion sees that he's surrounded by enemies and thinks to himself that the Lannisters don't have friends in the Vale.

Lysa tells Tyrion that he should watch his mouth and puts it out there that she has a long list of men in the Vale who would be willing to die for her and her son. Tyrion shoots back that if he's harmed, his brother Jaime will guarantee that these men will die so Lysa threatens Tyrion by asking him if he's suddenly sprouted wings because, if he hasn't, he might want to rethink whatever threat he next wants to make. Tyrion can't help himself and tells Lysa that his last comment was a promise and not a threat.

Robert starts to flip out on Tyrion a little and screeches that nobody will be able to hurt himself or his mother while they're in the Eyrie. He seems like he's on the verge of having one of his shaking fits so his mother wraps him close in her arms and goes on for a bit about how the Eyrie is supposedly impregnable.

Tyrion fears that Lysa is right since he's seen for himself just how taxing it is to make it up to the Eyrie. In fact, the ascent was so difficult for Tyrion that Bronn ultimately had to carry him for the last part of the journey after Tyrion realized that he could no longer go on.

Still, Tyrion tells Lysa that their castle isn't exactly impregnable it's just a bitch to get into. Not impossible though. Young Robert thinks that Tyrion is lying about the Eyrie not being one hundred percent impregnable and wants to punish Tyrion by making him "fly" out of the Moon Door.

The situation is clearly escalating so Catelyn speaks up and reminds Lysa that Tyrion is in fact Cat's prisoner and that she doesn't want to see him harmed.

Lysa rises from her lesser throne and descends down on Tyrion and Tyrion briefly wonders if Lysa is actually going to strike him. Instead she tells her guards to release Tyrion and they do but only to send him sprawling onto the floor at Lysa's feet. The High Hall rings with laughter as Tyrion struggles to get to his feet and Lysa mocks the way Tyrion initially seems unable to stand.

Lysa then orders one of her knights, Ser Vardis, to escort Tyrion to one of the sky cells. Tyrion tells Lysa that he'll Remember the way he's been treated and he's then carried off to "rest" in his cell.

At first Tyrion seems hopeful that he won't be in the cell for long but as time passes he begins to have doubts and wonders if they just plan to leave him in it to rot. He doesn't think that he'll be able to last much longer under these conditions especially when he considers the way that his gaoler is currently trying to starve him. If nothing else he concedes that Mord might be right in that he'd eventually be tempted to jump.

Tyrion wonders about what his family might be doing about his current predicament but fears that they might not even know where to look for him. He thinks that if Cersei were smart that she'd insist that Tyrion be judged by the King himself. He doubts though that Cersei is smart enough to focus on the opportunity that a situation like this could provide as opposed to her being fixated on the insult that is being made to House Lannister.

Tyrion Lannister sighed. His sister was not without a certain low cunning, but her pride blinded her. She would see the insult in this, not the opportunity. And Jaime was even worse, rash and headstrong and quick to anger. His brother never untied a knot when he could slash it in two with his sword.

He wondered which of them had sent the footpad to silence the Stark boy, and whether they had truly conspired at the death of Lord Arryn. If the old Hand had been murdered, it was deftly and subtly done. Men of his age died of sudden illness all the time. In contrast, sending some oaf with a stolen knife after Brandon Stark struck him as unbelievably clumsy. And wasn't that peculiar, come to think on it . . .

Tyrion seems to think that there could be somebody else involved in the situation who isn't a Stark or Lannister and feels disturbed by this.

Knowing that he isn't going to survive in the cells much longer, Tyrion decides that if his mouth is what got him into the sky cell that he just might be able to talk himself out of there if he puts his mind to it. He calls for Mord and asks him if he'd like to be rich.

Mord immediately hits Tyrion in the face and keeps beating him every time Tyrion tries to explain that he comes from a family with money. Mord beats Tyrion some more and then wants to know if Tyrion still has anything else to say. Tyrion dodges a couple of blows and goes on about how Mord could have gold and he could even be a lord one day, Lord Mord!

Mord mutters something about how there isn't any gold and Tyrion realizes excitedly that he's at least been able to succeed in getting the guy to listen. Tyrion tells Mord that if Mord helps him that he'll give him gold. All Mord has to do is deliver a message to Lady Arryn that Tyrion is ready to confess to all of his crimes.

Mord seems concerned that Tyrion is trying to trick him and worries about being cheated. Tyrion knows that Mord is likely illiterate so he tells Mord that they'll put it all in writing about the gold so Mord seems reassured and goes off to fetch paper and ink.

Mord delivers the message to Lysa and later that evening she sends for Tyrion.

Ser Vardis escorts Tyrion to the High Hall to see Lysa and Tyrion manages to get Mord to give him back the shadowskin cloak before he goes. Mord seems to resent this but for whatever reason chooses not to argue especially after Ser Vardis orders him to do as Tyrion asks.

The High Hall is full of knights and other retainers and it's clear that Lysa wants all of these prominent people of the Vale to be on hand to hear Tyrion's confession. Tyrion is grateful that it's past Robert Arryn's bedtime so at least he won't have to deal with him. Tyrion is also pleased to see that Marillion is in the audience and thinks that whatever happens at least a singer will be around to spread word of the tale.Tyrion also takes note of Bronn's presence among the spectators.

Catelyn asks Tyrion about making his confession and Lysa seems pleased telling Catelyn that the sky cells know how to break men. Catelyn says that she doesn't think Tyrion looks particularly broken but Lysa ignores her. Lysa commands Tyrion to say whatever it is that he has to say.

And now to roll the dice, he thought with another quick glance back at Bronn. "Where to begin? I am a vile little man, I confess it. My crimes and sins are beyond counting, my lords and ladies. I have lain with whores, not once but hundreds of times. I have wished my own lord father dead, and my sister, our gracious queen, as well." Behind him, someone chuckled. "I have not always treated my servants with kindness. I have gambled. I have even cheated, I blush to admit. I have said many cruel and malicious things about the noble lords and ladies of the court." That drew outright laughter. "Once I—"

Lysa has had enough and shouts at Tyrion to be silent. She demands to know what it is that he thinks he's doing, and when Tyrion makes it clear that his crimes don't include Jon Arryn's murder or the attempted murder of Bran, Lysa orders him back to a smaller sky cell with a floor that slopes even more than the other one did.

Tyrion loudly asks if this is the way justice is handled in the Vale and says that he has the right to a trial since he's denying that he had anything to do with the crimes he's being accused of. After Tyrion talks about having the right to a trial there is murmuring in the High Hall but Lysa doesn't seem concerned. In fact she's smiling as though things are going her way.

Lysa reminds Tyrion that if he loses a trial then he's going to immediately be pitched out of the Moon Door. She then commands her guards to open the Moon Door and mentions that there is no headsman at the Eyrie. Catelyn tells Lysa that she doesn't think this is a smart move; Lysa once again ignores her sister.

Lysa tells Tyrion that if he wants a trial that he can have one and that her son will listen to whatever it is that Tyrion has to say and can then be the judge of it. She says after this happens that Tyrion will then be permitted to leave by one door or the other.

Tyrion says thanks but no thanks, he'll opt for having a trial by combat instead. The High Hall breaks into laughter at this but Lysa is a little shaken and grudgingly admits that Tyrion does indeed have this right.

A bunch of men volunteer to fight for Lysa and Tyrion is a little bummed out that so many people are volunteering to be the one to kill him. He's starting to doubt his plan a bit. All these other men volunteer so Lysa has to go and choose the one man who actually didn't volunteer. Ser Vardis tells Lysa that he wouldn't feel right fighting Tyrion because Tyrion is a dwarf and there wouldn't be any honor in fighting somebody who is so obviously outmatched.

Tyrion says that he agrees with what Ser Vardis is saying and Lysa snaps at Tyrion that Tyrion is the one who demanded a trial by combat. Tyrion tells her that he should have the right to select a champion on his behalf and says that he knows his brother Jaime will stand for him.

Lysa is annoyed and says that Jaime's too far away. Tyrion says that they can send for Jaime and that he can wait for him. Lysa insists that Tyrion will face Ser Vardis the next day so Tyrion turns to Marillion and tells him to make sure to sing long and loud about how Lysa Arryn forced a dwarf to battle a knight rather than permitting the dwarf to exercise his right of having another stand in his place.

Seeing that Tyrion has her here, Lysa changes her tune and tells Tyrion that she isn't denying him anything and that if he can find a man to stand for him then that man will be permitted to face Ser Vardis on the morrow.

At first nobody volunteers and just as Tyrion is worried if he hasn't totally screwed himself, Bronn the sellsword speaks up and says that he'll fight for the dwarf.

Edited July 11, 2015 by Avaleigh

[Holmbo]

Imagine how cold it must be so far up. Probably not very high above freezing temperature.

Tyrion's thoughts on his siblings are interesting to read because he's the only non Stark pov we have in this book.

[turkturkelton]

 

It's interesting to see people's different view on book vs show Viserys. Stillshimpy for example wrote that she thought show Viserys was much more sympathetic but I've heard other people who read the book after the show say that getting more backstory made them feel more sorry for him.

 

I don't feel sympathy for either portrayal of Viserys, to be completely honest. He is an entitled brat who derives all of his false sense of entitlement from his blood/name/family legacy/etc alone, not from a single thing he has actually done. Yes, okay, he could have (should have) been king had events unfolded differently, but he certainly didn't need to treat everyone like shit (particularly his innocent little sister), and like they were so very below him, considering his own circumstances. He made himself into the beggar king when things could have gone better for the last two little Targs if he hadn't been such a dick. Maybe Illyrio wouldn't have been his last resort/supporter. I absolutely agree that if he had treated Danny well she would have absolutely worshiped him. Maybe they would have gotten married like she thought they were going to when she was growing up.

 

After the last Daenerys chapter I can't help but think about how similar Viserys is to Joffrey. They're both so smug and arrogant based on nothing either of them has done. Both often boast about leading armies and defeating enemies with no training, skill, or actual prowess in combat to back it up. When put in tough spots both of them are actually huge wusses, but then cover it up with lies and bravado after the fact. I think both characters are the worst, and I can't stand Viserys's whole, "you don't want to wake the dragon, do you?" shtick. Although then I think of the old "Don't Wake Daddy!" board game from the 80s/90s and that cracks me up.

 

 

Theon never fit in at Winterfell.

 

As I have been rereading, I have been going back over the corresponding episodes of the show too. The first time through I really didn't pick up on all the hints at how Theon really wasn't 100% content with the Starks and his situation with them. I felt so surprised and betrayed when he turned on Robb the first time through, but going over it again, both the books and the show do a good job of laying the groundwork for his sudden yet inevitable betrayal.

 

As for events at the Eyrie, the sky cells really freak me out. You're stuck there, exposed to the cold and wind while your only means of respite from those tortures - sweet, sweet sleep - is denied you because the floors are sloped and dozing off could mean a roll to your doom...Yeah, I could see myself going crazy in there. I do love Bronn standing up to be Tyrion's champion. Oh, Lysa, it's really saying something when you make Cat look to be the savvy decision making Tully sister.

Edited July 12, 2015 by turkturkelton

[Avaleigh]

As for events at the Eyrie, the sky cells really freak me out. You're stuck there, exposed to the cold and wind while your only means of respite from those tortures - sweet, sweet sleep - is denied you because the floors are sloped and dozing off could mean a roll to your doom...Yeah, I could see myself going crazy in there. I do love Bronn standing up to be Tyrion's champion. Oh, Lysa, it's really saying something when you make Cat look to be the savvy decision making Tully sister.

 

I don't think of myself as a person who is afraid of heights but holy crap would I have issues if somebody forced me to make the ascent to the Eyrie. Then I'd basically have to live there until winter because I'd be so scared to climb down again. 

 

That's just the climb. The idea of having to spend more than a night in one of those sky cells sounds like pure torture. I don't even know if I'd be able to slide on my stomach and look over the edge as Tyrion did. 

 

No way did they empty those cells when everyone else left the Eyrie in AFFC. 

 

One thing this chapter got me thinking about was how all three Lannister siblings have been imprisoned under harsh circumstances and how different each sibling reacted to their experience. Tyrion seems the least scarred by his cell time but that's also probably because he wasn't locked away for as long as Jaime or Cersei were. That being said I'm pretty sure that Tyrion is still angry about the experience years later and was always planning on finding a way to pay Lysa Arryn back if the opportunity happened to present itself. While they're in their cells they all think about the behavior that brought them there but Tyrion is the only one who can at least admit to himself that his reckless comments are at least part of the reason why he ended up having to play nice with a guy like Mord. 

 

I'm really looking forward to the Ned chapter coming up. The next time we get to Dany too we'll have come to the end of the life of Viserys III. I'm curious to know if I'll still feel the same lack of sympathy that I felt for book Viserys or if Harry Lloyd's portrayal is going to make me feel a pang in the way I didn't before.

 

Viserys is a character where I think I might have liked the version that was conceived in the original outline more.  

[benteen]

On the show, I did love Mord's line to Tyrion where he told him "You want free?  Go be free."

[Holmbo]

At one point in the books, in the third I think, Tyrion thinks of having recurring nightmares about the sky cell. Though I agree his experience was not as horrible as losing a hand or having to walk naked through mobs of people.

Talking about comparing the Lannisters, both Jaime and Tyrion has had "road trips" in their story. Imagine Cersei having one and how very different that would be :)

Edited July 12, 2015 by Holmbo

[Avaleigh]

Eddard X

 

Ned is dreaming an old dream that involves three knights of the Kingsguard and his sister Lyanna.

 

In the dream his friends rode with him, as they had in life. Proud Martyn Cassel, Jory's father; faithful Theo Wull; Ethan Glover, who had been Brandon's squire; Ser Mark Ryswell, soft of speech and gentle of heart; the crannogman, Howland Reed; Lord Dustin on his great red stallion. Ned had known their faces as well as he knew his own once, but the years leech at a man's memories, even those he has vowed never to forget. In the dream they were only shadows, grey wraiths on horses made of mist.

They were seven, facing three. In the dream as it had been in life. Yet these were no ordinary three. They waited before the round tower, the red mountains of Dorne at their backs, their white cloaks blowing in the wind. And these were no shadows; their faces burned clear, even now. Ser Arthur Dayne, the Sword of the Morning, had a sad smile on his lips. The hilt of the greatsword Dawn poked up over his right shoulder. Ser Oswell Whent was on one knee, sharpening his blade with a whetstone. Across his white-enameled helm, the black bat of his House spread its wings. Between them stood fierce old Ser Gerold Hightower, the White Bull, Lord Commander of the Kingsguard.

 

 

Ned tells the men that he looked for them at the Battle of the Trident and Ser Gerold says that they weren't there. Ser Oswell seems to think that Robert wouldn't have lived if they'd been at the battle.

 

Ned says to them that he wondered where they were during the fall of King's Landing when Ser Jaime was killing their King.

 

Ser Gerold responds that they were far away from King's Landing at the time but if they had been then Aerys would still be alive and on his throne and Jaime would be burning for eternity in one of the seven hells.

 

Ned says to the knights that after having lifted the siege of Storm's End he'd expected them all to be there so that they could bend the knee and pledge their fealty. Ser Arthur replies that their knees don't bend so easily.

 

Ned mentions the fact that Ser Willem Darry has fled to Dragonstone with Queen Rhaella and Prince Viserys and wonders why the knights of the Kingsguard didn't sail with them.

 

Ser Oswell mentions that Darry is a good man and Ser Gerold points out that Darry wasn't a knight of the Kingsguard and that knights of the Kingsguard do not flee. Ser Arthur agrees with Ser Gerold that they do not flee and proceeds to don his helm. Ser Gerold explains that they swore a vow and the indication is that he's ready to fight to the death because he swore that vow.

 

The images are more dreamlike for Ned now and he sees the shadows of these men with their swords in hand and thinks about how they are seven against three.

 

Ser Arthur Dayne gets all dramatic saying "and now it begins" and unsheathes his sword Dawn. The appearance of the sword Dawn is unusual and the blade is described as being "pale as milkglass [and] alive with light".

 

Ned sounds sad in the dream and tells Arthur that he's wrong and that this is where it ends. The men then come together with a clash of swords and Ned can hear Lyanna screaming his name in the background.

 

The dream intensifies and Ned sees a vision of blue rose petals scattering across a blood soaked sky. Lyanna calls her brother "Lord Eddard" in the dream and he tells her that he promises. He calls her Lya and again promises to do whatever it is that she has asked of him.

 

Ned hears "Lord Eddard" again and he finally stirs from the dream and sees that he's back in the Tower of the Hand. It's Vayon Poole who wakes him and Ned asks him how long he's been in bed and out of it, and Poole says that it's been about a week. Poole gets Ned to drink some water and it seems that Grand Maester Pycelle has been attending to Ned since he's been injured.

 

Poole tells Ned that Robert wants to speak with him and Ned says that he'll talk to the King tomorrow when he's feeling a bit stronger. He doesn't feel up to facing Robert and even thinks to himself that he feels weakened by the dream he just had. Unfortunately for Ned, Poole tells him that Robert has insisted that they speak the moment Ned opens his eyes so Ned curses under his breath and tells Poole that if Robert is so impatient to speak with him then His Grace can make the trip to the Tower of the Hand because he has no intention of moving right now. Ned adds that he hopes that Robert is interrupted from sleeping soundly.

 

Ned is about to have Poole give instructions to Jory before remembering that Jory is dead. He tells Poole to bring him the new captain of his guard.

 

Alyn steps into Ned's room now and Ned wants to know what all has been going on since he's been out of it the past six days. Alyn tells Ned that Jaime has fled the city. Alyn doesn't know for sure where Jaime is headed but the talk is that he's headed to Casterly Rock to join up with Tywin. Ned also learns that everyone is talking about Catelyn's abduction of Tyrion. Alyn adds that he's put extra guards in place because of this.

 

Ned then asks after his daughters and Alyn tells him that they've been with him every day. Sansa has been praying and Arya is angry and refuses to speak to anyone. Ned says that whatever happens he wants to make sure that his daughters are kept safe. He thinks that this is only the tip of the iceberg and that things are likely going to get worse.

 

Ned inquires about Jory and the others and Alyn says that their bodies were given over to the silent sisters and that their remains will be sent back to Winterfell. Alyn mentions that Jory would want to be buried by his grandfather. Ned then thinks to himself how Jory's father Martyn Cassel died during the seven against three battle.

 

It would have to be his grandfather, for Jory's father was buried far to the south. Martyn Cassel had perished with the rest. Ned had pulled the tower down afterward, and used its bloody stones to build eight cairns upon the ridge. It was said that Rhaegar had named that place the tower of joy, but for Ned it was a bitter memory. They had been seven against three, yet only two had lived to ride away; Eddard Stark himself and the little crannogman, Howland Reed. He did not think it omened well that he should dream that dream again after so many years.

 

Ned compliments Alyn for his assistance and tells him that he's doing well.

 

Poole is back now and says that Robert and Cersei are outside ready to speak with Ned. Ned is surprised that Cersei is there too and thinks this can't mean anything good.

 

Robert and Cersei have both taken the time to dress and Robert walks in with a flagon of wine in his hand. His face is flushed from drinking and he offers Ned some telling him that it's a nice vintage from the Arbor. Ned says that he'll only have a small about because he's still feeling kind of high from the milk of the poppy that he's been given.

 

Cersei wastes no time in telling Ned that he's lucky his head is still attached to his body. Robert tells Cersei to be quiet and asks Ned about his leg. The leg is painful for Ned but he makes it seem like it isn't too bad because he doesn't want to admit to any weakness in front of the Queen.

 

Robert asks Ned if he knows about what Catelyn has done and Ned again tells the lie that he supposedly knows because he was the one who gave Catelyn the order to arrest Tyrion in the first place. Robert tells Ned that he isn't happy and Cersei wants to know what right Ned has to lay his hands on a member of her family.

 

Cersei straight up asks Ned who the hell he thinks he is and Ned coldly tells her that he's the Hand of the King. Cersei tells him that he was the Hand of the King but Robert cuts her off before she can say more.

 

Robert wants to know how Ned can claim that he's trying to keep the peace when eight men are dead because of what happened. Robert sees it as a kidnapping in the kingsroad and people being killed in the streets of King's Landing.

 

Ned tries to tell Robert that Catelyn had good reasons for taking Tyrion but Robert doesn't want to hear it and tells Ned that he will command Catelyn to release Tyrion at once. He also insists that Ned make peace with Jaime.

 

Ned asks Robert if he really expects for Ned to just forget that Jaime ordered Ned's men killed simply because Jaime was trying to teach him some harsh lesson.

 

Cersei defends Jaime and says that it isn't Jaime's fault that this fight started. She claims that Ned was returning drunk from a brothel and that Ned's men attacked Jaime and his guards.

 

Ned is like, Robert, come on, you know me better than that, dude, and then tells him to ask Littlefinger if he doesn't believe him. Robert says that he already talked to Petyr and according to Petyr he left before the fighting happened but did helpfully confirm that they'd been coming from visiting a brothel.

 

Ned sounds pretty outraged now and seems like he can't believe that his friend has his head so far up his ass. He tells Robert that he was there to see Robert's latest daughter and tells Robert that the daughter, Barra, looks like the girl Robert fathered in the Vale all those years ago. Cersei doesn't so much as flinch when Ned puts this information out there and Ned thinks to himself that her face is mask like in its composure.

 

Robert has the grace to at least be somewhat embarrassed here and then wonders why the girl who had his child would be stupid enough to think that a name like Barra would actually please him. Ned says that the girl is about fifteen years old and a King's Landing whore to boot, and somehow Robert was expecting her to be all sensible?

 

He tells Robert that the foolish young girl is actually in love with Robert and Robert suddenly remembers that Cersei is in the room so he tells Ned that the topic isn't something that Queen should hear.

 

Ned doesn't really care and says that Cersei isn't going to like what he has to say anyway. He wants Robert to give him permission to have Jaime brought back to the city to answer to justice. Robert tells him that this isn't going to happen and says Ned that Ned killed some of Jaime's men and Jaime had some of Ned's men killed and now it's going to end.

 

Ned thinks that if allowing the matter to rest is Robert's idea of justice then Ned is more pleased than ever to no longer be his Hand. Cersei looks at Robert here and when Robert appears to have nothing to say she tells him that if Ned had spoken that way to a Targaryen king he likely would have regretted it. Cersei is interrupted before she can add that last part and Robert wants to know if Cersei is suddenly mistaking him for Aerys II.

 

Cersei tells him that she isn't mistaking him for Aerys. She says that she took Robert for a king and that Jaime and Tyrion are the king's own brothers by law. She points out that the Starks have attacked and driven one of her brothers out while kidnapping the other. She says that Ned has repeatedly dishonored Robert, to his face even, yet Robert is standing around asking Ned is his leg is hurting him and whether he wouldn't like some fine wine.

 

Robert's face grow dark with anger and he tells Cersei to watch her mouth.

 

Cersei gives Robert a contemptuous look and says that she feels like the gods have played a massive joke on them because in her opinion she's the one who should be in mail while Robert would be better suited to wearing dresses.

 

Robert can't take anymore and lashes out at Cersei by giving her a savage backhand to the face that is so hard it makes her fall into a table and onto the ground. Her face reddens and Ned thinks that half of her face will be dark and bruised by tomorrow. Cersei doesn't cry out when she's struck and tells Robert that she'll wear her bruises as a badge of honor. Robert tells Cersei that he'll "honor" her again if she doesn't shut the hell up.

 

Robert shouts for a guard to escort the Queen back to bedchamber so Ser Meryn Trant comes in and ends up helping Cersei to her feet and they leave without saying anything else.

 

Once they're alone, Robert helps himself to some more wine and then starts to complain to Ned about Cersei and basically says that she made him hit her.

The king seated himself, cradling his wine cup. "My loving wife. The mother of my children." The rage was gone from him now; in his eyes Ned saw something sad and scared. "I should not have hit her. That was not . . . that was not kingly." He stared down at his hands, as if he did not quite know what they were. "I was always strong . . . no one could stand before me, no one. How do you fight someone if you can't hit them?" Confused, the king shook his head. "Rhaegar . . . Rhaegar won, damn him. I killed him, Ned, I drove the spike right through that black armor into his black heart, and he died at my feet. They made up songs about it. Yet somehow he still won. He has Lyanna now, and I have her." The king drained his cup.

 

Ned says that there are still other things they need to talk about but Robert doesn't want to talk anymore. He says that he's going hunting tomorrow and that whatever it is Ned wants to say can wait until after the hunt.

 

Ned reminds Robert that he's planning on leaving for Winterfell due to Robert's command but Robert gives Ned back his badge and tells him that he's still Hand. He says that he forbids him to leave so Ned feels that he has no choice but stay. At the same time, he still decides to bring up the issue that caused his dismissal in the first place. He mentions Danaerys Targaryen but Robert makes it plain that it's a done deal and he doesn't want to argue about it anymore.

 

Ned wants to know why Robert wants to keep him as Hand if he has no intention of listening to his counsel. Robert responds that somebody has to run the realm and in his opinion, Ned seems well suited to the position.

 

Robert then adds that if Ned ever dares to throw his badge in Robert's face again then he'll be sure that the next Hand of the King will be none other than Jaime Lannister.

[benteen]

Robert with his Jaime Lannister fetish again.  Names him Warden of the West (promptly forgotten about) and threatens to name him Hand of the King if Ned leaves, despite the crap he pulled.  This chapter is an excellent example of the clusterfuck that is Robert Baratheon's life and reign.

[Avaleigh]

Robert's comment about Rhaegar having won reminds me of Jaime feeling as though he's lost even though people keep telling him that House Lannisters won the war.

It's odd that Ned would be unconscious for so long.

I love the old knights of the Kingsguard but it's kind of a race as to who is the most self righteous and arrogant.

I think Robert suggested that he'd make Jaime Hand in order to force Ned into staying in the position.

Littlefinger is such an asshole. I have no problem believing that he was suggestive enough about the brothel visit to the point where Robert probably felt bad that Ned chose to make one of his rare visits to a brothel without inviting his best friend to come along.

I love the detail of Ned calling her Lya.

My what if for this is what if Jaime had seen the bruise on Cersei's face?

Robert seems a lot more upset about what Catelyn did here than in the show.

I kind of laughed when Meryn came in to collect Cersei off of the floor without any noteworthy facial expressions or anything because it gives the impression that he's hardened and jaded. I feel like Selmy's disapproval would have been all over his face even if he didn't actually say anything.

[benteen]

Well, Cersei was sort of right.  Ned and his men HAD just left a brothel. ;)

 

Yep, the Kingsguard was self-righteous and I would argue they were likely breaking their oath by hanging around with Rhaegar when their King needed them.

[Avaleigh]

Another thing I meant to comment on was being a little surprised at the age of Barra's mother. Ned doesn't know for sure how old he is but he guesses that the girl is about fifteen so Robert probably hooked up with her when she was fourteen. Just three years older than Sansa. Jeez. He really has no self control. 

Well, Cersei was sort of right.  Ned and his men HAD just left a brothel. ;)

 

Yep, the Kingsguard was self-righteous and I would argue they were likely breaking their oath by hanging around with Rhaegar when their King needed them.

Yeah, that's a little confusing to me but maybe Aerys initially ordered them to obey Rhaegar and then once Aerys was dead they felt their duty was to guard Lyanna and her child.?

[benteen]

Another thing I meant to comment on was being a little surprised at the age of Barra's mother. Ned doesn't know for sure how old he is but he guesses that the girl is about fifteen so Robert probably hooked up with her when she was fourteen. Just three years older than Sansa. Jeez. He really has no self control. 

Yeah, that's a little confusing to me but maybe Aerys initially ordered them to obey Rhaegar and then once Aerys was dead they felt their duty was to guard Lyanna and her child.?

 

Could be.  It's never made clear and Ned never thinks of the men as oathbreakers.  Though I am amused at the Kingsguard shit-talking because they weren't at the Trident.

[Holmbo]

Robert with his Jaime Lannister fetish again. Names him Warden of the West (promptly forgotten about) and threatens to name him Hand of the King if Ned leaves, despite the crap he pulled. This chapter is an excellent example of the clusterfuck that is Robert Baratheon's life and reign.

I'm not sure that this is not Martin's cluster rather than Roberts. He just seems so inconsistent with the rules and expectations of the kings guard. How is Ned's main focus in this conversation not that Jaime is commanding Lannister men and left the city without the kings order? Maybe it could be said he did it on the queens order? I'm very confused.

I agree with Avaleigh though, that Robert's comment about making Jaime hand is probably not serious. It's like: take back this batch or I'll pin it on Moon boy.

By the way, why does Robert get a regular name unlike almost everyone else in the story? Is he named after someone Martin knows? That's not very complementary.

[Avaleigh]

I'm not sure that this is not Martin's cluster rather than Roberts. He just seems so inconsistent with the rules and expectations of the kings guard. How is Ned's main focus in this conversation not that Jaime is commanding Lannister men and left the city without the kings order? Maybe it could be said he did it on the queens order? I'm very confused.

I agree with Avaleigh though, that Robert's comment about making Jaime hand is probably not serious. It's like: take back this batch or I'll pin it on Moon boy.

By the way, why does Robert get a regular name unlike almost everyone else in the story? Is he named after someone Martin knows? That's not very complementary.

Just as Tyrion and Sam are characters that GRRM has poured bits of himself into I've suspected that Robert is a character who contains some of his less admirable qualities. I can totally see him thinking 'How would I have behaved if I'd been king under those circumstances? Hmm, probably lots of eating, drinking, laughing, and fucking around. Check, check, check, double check.' That lazy streak that GRRM totally has (only IMO of course) I totally see that in Robert. 

 

As far as families with "normal" sounding names, I'd say the Lannisters have some of the most average sounding names even if the spellings are different. 

 

Could be.  It's never made clear and Ned never thinks of the men as oathbreakers.  Though I am amused at the Kingsguard shit-talking because they weren't at the Trident.

 

Not only was their arrogance a little surprising for me to read but I also got the impression that they had no issue with Aerys being their king and these are the guys who are talking about how their knees don't bend so easily. So they'll bend the knee for a psychotic, murdering, pyro-obsessed rapist but they can't even consider that maybe the Mad King should have been removed. I wish there'd been something else said to indicate that they really wanted Rhaegar on the throne and at least some acknowledgement that the Mad King brought a lot of what happened to him on himself. 

 

Gerold makes it sound like Aerys should still be on the throne and I'm just like how can they still think that after everything that has happened?

 

I wish they could have found some way to compromise and rather than kill Elia and her children to have Aegon installed as King but then have somebody like Ned be Lord Protector with Tywin going back to being Hand. Maybe try to keep Elia in the fold by eventually having her married to someone from the other side. A younger son who doesn't need to worry about having kids. Or even send her back to Sunspear but keep the kids to make sure Dorne doesn't get out of line.  If Aegon and Rhaenys grow up with and play with the children of the families on the other side would they really still want to seek revenge for their father and grandfather especially if it's emphasized to them that their father had publicly insulted their mother and had effectively abandoned them to their fate at King's Landing? (I'm not saying that this is what happened, I'm saying that this is how people would spin it to Rhaenys and Aegon as they're growing up.) The kids were young enough where I don't think that they'd have to worry about having a Theon-ish situation on their hands in later life where all this guy needed was an opportunity to turn on the people who'd raised him. 

[Avaleigh]

Catelyn VII

 

It's dawn and Catelyn is taking in the beauty of the Eyrie from her room while she listens to Ser Rodrik giving her the news that the Kingslayer is massing a host down at Casterly Rock and Catelyn's brother Edmure is already preparing defend the Tully lands.

 

Since Edmure isn't yet the Lord of Riverrun, Catelyn wants to know where her father stands in all of this but Ser Rodrik says that the message gave no word of Hoster Tully. Catelyn feels that her father wouldn't leave the defense of Riverrun to Edmure unless he really is very sick and starts to worry. Cat's also a little annoyed that she wasn't woken right away upon the arrival of the raven but Lysa apparently thought it would be better to let Catelyn sleep.

 

Rodrik says according to Maester Colemon, Lysa was planning on speaking with Catelyn right after the trial by combat.

 

Catelyn can't believe that Lysa still plans on allowing the trial by combat to take place considering the way Tyrion has successfully been playing her. Cat says no matter what the outcome of the trial that she's long overdue to return to Winterfell to be with her sons so she'll ask Lysa to see about giving her an escort to Gulltown and then she and Rodrik will be able to take a ship from there. Ser Rodrik seems like he feels sick at the idea of another sea voyage where he'll be puking his guts up but he agrees to the plan.

 

If Catelyn had been able to have it her way, she and Lysa would have questioned Tyrion in private but it was Lysa's idea to have Tyrion "confess" in front of all of those prominent people from the Vale. She tells Rodrik that she'll have to remind Lysa yet again that Tyrion is her prisoner.

 

As they near Lysa's apartments they run into Brynden Tully who seems to be similarly irritated with Lysa and her decision making and actually comments that he wishes Cat could slap some sense into her sister.

 

Brynden knows all about the news from Riverrun and has already asked Lysa if he could ride with a thousand men from the Vale to help protect Riverrun. To Brynden's frustration, Lysa refuses and says that the Vale cannot spare a single man to aid the Riverlands and says that her uncle's place is in the Vale as Knight of the Gate. Brynden lets Lysa know that it's time for her to find a new man for the position and says that he's a Tully first and that he'll be leaving the Vale to head for Riverrun.

 

Catelyn asks her uncle to travel with her and Ser Rodrik instead and tells him that she'll get him a thousand men from Winterfell. She insists that Riverrun won't fight alone. Brynden thinks about it for a moment and agrees that this will be the best option even if it's going to end up taking longer than he'd like.

 

Lysa's apartments overlook a small garden filled with statues and this is where the trial by combat is going to take place. Lysa is surrounded by men and sycophants and a bunch of them still seem like they hope to be able to marry her but Catelyn thinks that these guys are probably hoping in vain.

 

Little Robert Arryn is laughing his ass off as a puppeteer entertains him and nice refreshments have been put out like it's some garden party instead of a contest that will decide whether or not two men will live to see another day.

 

Lysa is sitting around giggling like a ditzy fool as she flirts with various guys and eats blackberries from the tip of Ser Lyn Corbray's dagger. Catelyn thinks to herself how unsuitable most of the men are whether they are old, poor, or sexually uninterested women.

 

When Lysa sees that her sister has arrived she hugs her, gives her a sloppy kiss, and asks her to have some wine and enjoy the morning as everyone else present is seemingly doing. Catelyn declines and tells Lysa that they need to talk but Lysa doesn't want to talk until after the fight.

 

Catelyn sees that she needs to insist and tells Lysa that it's stupid to go through with this trial by combat. If Tyrion loses then a dead hostage will have no value to them. If Tyrion wins then he'll no longer be their hostage so it's a lose/lose situation for their side and she wants to know how it is that Lysa isn't getting this.

 

Lord Hunter opines that Tyrion's sellsword doesn't have a chance at winning but Catelyn isn't so sure since she's seen Bronn fight for herself and sees that it's obvious that he knows what he's doing. Another knight gives the opinion that sellswords are all ultimately cowards and agrees with Lord Hunter that Tyrion's man will lose.

 

Catelyn decides to skip over the knight vs. sellsword debate and asks them all what they will gain with Tyrion's death. She then asks if anybody there really thinks that Jaime Lannister is going to give a fuck that Tyrion was given a trial before being tossed through the Moon Door?

 

Lysa says it's Tyrion's own fault that he's in this position anyway since he's the one who demanded a trial by combat and Lord Hunter points out that Lysa couldn't really honorably refuse Tyrion's request. Catelyn doesn't care about any of this and firmly reminds Lysa that Tyrion is her prisoner.

 

Lysa doesn't care and claims that Tyrion murdered her husband Jon so she wants to see him pay for it. She walks away from Cat and her suitors trail behind her.

 

Rodrik asks Catelyn if she thinks that Tyrion killed Jon Arryn and says that Tyrion is still vociferously denying the charge. Catelyn isn't sure if Tyrion did it personally but she does think that the Lannisters were behind Jon's death. She then remembers that in the letter Lysa sent to Winterfell that she'd accused Cersei but now Lysa seems convinced that it was Tyrion. Catelyn thinks to herself that she almost wishes she'd burned that letter instead of reading it.

 

Rodrik gives his opinion that it couldn't have been Jaime, not if poison was what killed Jon. He thinks that poison is a woman's weapon but doesn't think it's out of the realm of possibility that Tyrion could have used it.

 

Young Robert is still laughing away and Catelyn looks at her nephew and thinks that he needs to be taken away from his mother if he's going to have a chance of growing into a man who is strong enough to rule the Vale.

 

Maester Colemon seems to have been listening in on their conversation because he confides to Catelyn that Jon Arryn thought it would be best if Robert were fostered with Stannis at Dragonstone. Maester Colemon senses that he probably shouldn't be talking about such things and blames the wine.

 

Catelyn tells the Maester that he's mistaken and that it was Casterly Rock where Robert was going to be fostered and adds that these arrangements were made after the death of Jon rather than before. Maester Colemon though is adamant that it was Jon who made the arrangements and it seems like he's going to say more before they're interrupted by the sound of a bell tolling.

 

Tyrion has been brought in and the trial by combat is about to be under way. Robert is all excited now and asks if he's going to be able to make Tyrion "fly". Lysa promises that he will be able to later.

 

Ser Vardis Egan is wearing a lot of heavy army and is a smaller man than Bronn. Bronn is lightly armored and Catelyn thinks that he's probably about fifteen years or so younger than Ser Vardis.

 

A septon performs a kind of blessing and asks the gods to judge and grant death to the guilty party.

 

Tyrion says something to Bronn to make him laugh and Robert is impatient to know when they're going to get on with it.

 

Ser Vardis is having a massive shield strapped to his arm and when Bronn is given the opportunity to have his own shield, he spits and waves it away.

 

It turns out that Ser Vardis isn't even fighting with his own sword. He's using Jon Arryn's old blade because Lysa likes the idea of Jon being avenged with his own weapon. Catelyn thinks it would be wiser to allow Ser Vardis to fight with a blade that feels comfortable for him but she realizes that there's little point in arguing with her impulsive sister.

 

Robert yells at the men to begin fighting after being given the okay by his mother and the fighting commences.

 

After the first clash of swords Bronn spends his time dancing around Ser Vardis getting the guy to swing and then moving just out of the knight's reach. This goes on for a time and Lord Hunter finally shouts from the crowd that Bronn is being cowardly because he won't stand still and fight.

 

Ser Rodrik though sees what Bronn is doing and can tell he's trying to tire Ser Vardis out by making the knight to chase him. He says that even a strong man will tire eventually after wearing such heavy armor.

 

Watching the men fight makes Catelyn think of a duel she once witnessed years ago before she was married.

They met in the lower bailey of Riverrun. When Brandon saw that Petyr wore only helm and breastplate and mail, he took off most of his armor. Petyr had begged her for a favor he might wear, but she had turned him away. Her lord father promised her to Brandon Stark, and so it was to him that she gave her token, a pale blue handscarf she had embroidered with the leaping trout of Riverrun. As she pressed it into his hand, she pleaded with him. “He is only a foolish boy, but I have loved him like a brother. It would grieve me to see him die.” And her betrothed looked at her with the cool grey eyes of a Stark and promised to spare the boy who loved her.

 

That fight was over almost as soon as it began. Brandon was a man grown, and he drove Littlefinger all the way across the bailey and down the water stair, raining steel on him with every step, until the boy was staggering and bleeding from a dozen wounds. “Yield!” he called, more than once, but Petyr would only shake his head and fight on, grimly. When the river was lapping at their ankles, Brandon finally ended it, with a brutal backhand cut that bit through Petyr’s rings and leather into the soft flesh below the ribs, so deep that Catelyn was certain that the wound was mortal. He looked at her as he fell and murmured “Cat” as the bright blood came flowing out between his mailed fingers. She thought she had forgotten that.

 

That was the last time she had seen his face . . . until the day she was brought before him in King’s Landing.

It took a fortnight for Littlefinger to recover from his wounds and Catelyn wasn't allowed to visit him during this time. Lysa was permitted to help nurse him and Edmure tried to visit Littlefinger but Littlefinger refused to see him because Edmure had squired for Brandon during the duel. Once he was strong enough to leave, Hoster Tully had Littlefinger sent back to the Fingers where Littlefinger was born.

 

The sound of the swords clashing brings Catelyn back to the present and she sees Ser Vardis trying to intensify his attack on Bronn but Bronn is still running away and keeping himself just out of reach.

 

Robert begins to complain about the way that the men are fighting so Lysa tries to assure her son that Bronn won't be able to run all day long. The spectators are making jokes and getting more wine but Tyrion, naturally, is watching the duel as though his life depends on it.

 

Bronn gets in a couple of blows that make Ser Vardis lose his balance and he ends up crashing into one of the statues in the garden. For a moment Bronn is out of his vision due to his helm and even when Lord Hunter shouts that Bronn is behind Ser Vardis, Vardis doesn't turn around in time and Bronn delivers a serious injury to his opponent's elbow.

 

Ser Rodrik states the obvious, that Ser Vardis is hurt, and Catelyn sees the knight growing slower and slower while Bronn grows quicker and more confident. Ser Vardis has multiple injuries now and his breathing is becoming more and more ragged.

 

Lysa is the only one who is blind to the fact that Ser Vardis is losing and actually yells at the poor man to finish Bronn off because her son is growing tired. Somehow Lysa's words cause Ser Vardis to get a second wind and for a few moments he tries to rally as he crashes in to Bronn and nearly knocks Bronn off of his feet. Unfortunately for Ser Vardis it isn't enough and Bronn is able to push a statue onto the wounded knight. Once Ser Vardis is pinned beneath the statue, Bronn delivers the fatal blow and kills his opponent leaving the spectators in shock and silence.

 

Bronn takes off his helm and spits out a tooth but other than that he appears to be in good shape.

 

Robert wants to know if the fighting is over and Catelyn thinks to herself that it's only just beginning. Robert asks if he'll now be able to make Tyrion fly and Tyrion informs the kid that it's not going to happen. Tyrion then makes it clear that he'll be on his way and that he'll ride down in one of the baskets. He also reminds Lysa of the Arryn words "High as Honor" once it seems like she's going to try to object.

 

Robert is pissed and screams at his mother that she promised that he was going to be able to make a bad man fly. He starts to shake and it seems like he's about to go into one of his fits.

 

Lysa tells the guards to escort Tyrion and Bronn to the Bloody Gate and adds she'll even provide supplies and horses. She says that they can have their weapons and other goods returned to them as well and pointedly tells them that they'll need all of this if they're going to be traveling on the dangerous high road.

 

When Tyrion repeats 'the high road' Lysa can't help but smile and Catelyn and Tyrion both seem to understand that Tyrion might well have just been given another death sentence.

 

Still, Tyrion is happy enough to be able to finally leave the Eyrie so he gives Lysa a mocking sort of bow and tells her that they already know the way down.

[Holmbo]

A common interpretation for this series is that it mocks the concept of honor and that the characters who keep to the rigid codes of its society are stupid and close minded. I don't always agree with this. I think there's a point to the system and following it is not necessarily stupid. But in this chapter it all does feel very ridiculous. Both this kind of "fighting honorably" and Lysa's crazy decisions, to have the trial, being justified by it being honorable. Then at the end they send Tyrion and Bronn away to what they think are their deaths. But since they don't kill them themselves its alright and bring them no dishonor.

This chapter made me think any the speculations in the wow thread about Robert being LF's son. Because of Jon Arryn's hair color being revealed in the Sansa chapter? Did any of you read that? Perhaps you even wrote it. I don't remember now who posted about the chapter. I was thinking about it in this chapter because it features both young Robert and LF, albeit in flashback.

Edited July 15, 2015 by Holmbo

[benteen]

I like how Brynden basically told Lysa to take her job and shove it.  That's the Blackfish I like.  I was never a fan of the show's interpretation.  Mind you, he would have said the same thing too.  But Show Blackfish was portrayed as a crude thug while Show Blackfish is a lot more noble while still being a little rough around the edges.

 

I have to say, I liked reading about Littlefinger refusing to yield in his duel against Brandon.  I expect all that noble and youthful idealism was beaten out of him that very day.

Edited July 16, 2015 by benteen

[Constantinople]

By the way, why does Robert get a regular name unlike almost everyone else in the story?

 

So we can call him Bob the Blob?

 

I don't know.

[Avaleigh]

Of all of the female characters we have in this series who are in leadership roles Lysa Arryn just might be the most ridiculous and disturbing of them all. Not only is she hopelessly foolish but she seems to lack any real sympathy for others. It's so crazy how deluded she is and I bet it extends to every area in her life including thinking she's still cute and beautiful. 

 

Catelyn makes these sensible arguments and there isn't one man surrounding Lysa who agrees with Catelyn? Am I supposed to think that the Blackfish is the only guy in the Eyrie with common sense? Lol, that Brynden thinks that Lysa needs are hard slap upside her head. Like Tywin, Stannis, and others, I can't help but feel like this guy did some time at the School of Hard Knocks. 

 

I thought the slip about Robert Arryn being fostered at Dragonstone was interesting. The Lannisters basically wanted to swoop in and have Robert be an "honored guest" of theirs, didn't they? In that case I can sort of see why she fled to the Eyrie but if only Catelyn had extended the offer for Lysa and Robert to come and live for awhile at Winterfell. I feel like so much grief might have been saved if that had been able to happen. 

 

Even with Bronn dancing out of the way and everything Vardis really did nearly get him off of his feet and then it would have been over. Meanwhile you have some of these people sound like they were casually watching like it was some tourney melee or something instead of a fight to the death. I felt like Tyrion, Catelyn, and Rodrik were the only people in that garden who seemed like they were watching something serious and sad. I'm glad too that the Blackfish seemed offended by the party like atmosphere when they're talking about a trial that's supposedly sacred to their Faith. 

 

Seeing Ser Lyn Corbray in this environment just makes me think that he's what Littlefinger would have been if his family had been older and he'd had what it takes physically to be a knight. 

 

I have to say, I liked reading about Littlefinger refusing to yield in his duel against Brandon.  I expect all that noble and youthful idealism was beaten out of his that very day.

 

Definitely. Those memories were actually my favorite part of the chapter. Interesting that Lysa was permitted to nurse Petyr while Catelyn wasn't. I wonder what that was all about? It's not like it wasn't perfectly clear to everyone that Cat preferred Brandon to Petyr. Brandon taking off most of his armor when he sees that Petyr barely has any and ordering Petyr to yield at least makes me think that Brandon was less of an asshole here than I originally thought he was. 

 

If I didn't know Littlefinger to be who he is I would actually feel desperately sorry for him here. He's having his own Rhaegar moment in a way where all he can think about is Catelyn as he lies in the water and thinks that he's probably dying. I can easily see Littlefinger thinking there that his love for Catelyn was greater than Brandon's and I have to think that Littlefinger hearing about how Brandon the Badass was brought to a vicious end by an old and mad king would have made an enormous impression on him about how it really doesn't matter how great you are on the field when there's somebody in power who can just snap their fingers and have you taken out within moments.  

[Lady S.]

Wow, I realized I've been checked out of this board for over a week, but it's good to see I'm not too far behind.

 

Lysa is a real piece of work, but at least she's pretty clearly not right in the head. The people who really disgust me here are the lords and knights fawning over her and delighting in the spectacle as they compete to be Sweetrobin's new regent. None of her suitors really care about avenging Jon Arryn or whether Tyrion is guilty, killing a Lannister dwarf is just sport for them, one more step in the courtship. I really feel bad for Ser Vardis, who had his part in this pressed on him by Lysa, and was the only one honorable enough not to want to duel if Tyrion was his opponent. To add on to what Holmbo was saying about this honor system, I think what's being drawn attention to here is the perversion of justice and honor occurring, where the only man decent enough to care about either is just being used with little choice in the matter and the rest of them are acting more like this is entertainment for them.  Calling Bronn's fighting style cowardly reminds me of Bobby saying poison is a sissy's weapon when ordering Viserys and Dany's assassination(s). 

 

By the way, why does Robert get a regular name unlike almost everyone else in the story? Is he named after someone Martin knows? That's not very complementary.

It only sticks out to me because his brothers both have made-up names. Jon and Brandon are real names too, and there are others on more minor characters, but Robert is the only Baratheon with a normal name. Oh, Mya has a normal name, it's probably safe to assume that was her mother's doing. 

.

[Avaleigh]

Wow, I realized I've been checked out of this board for over a week, but it's good to see I'm not too far behind.

 

Lysa is a real piece of work, but at least she's pretty clearly not right in the head. The people who really disgust me here are the lords and knights fawning over her and delighting in the spectacle as they compete to be Sweetrobin's new regent. None of her suitors really care about avenging Jon Arryn or whether Tyrion is guilty, killing a Lannister dwarf is just sport for them, one more step in the courtship. I really feel bad for Ser Vardis, who had his part in this pressed on him by Lysa, and was the only one honorable enough not to want to duel if Tyrion was his opponent. To add on to what Holmbo was saying about this honor system, I think what's being drawn attention to here is the perversion of justice and honor occurring, where the only man decent enough to care about either is just being used with little choice in the matter and the rest of them are acting more like this is entertainment for them.  Calling Bronn's fighting style cowardly reminds me of Bobby saying poison is a sissy's weapon when ordering Viserys and Dany's assassination(s). 

It's so tragic and screwed up the more that I think about it. Ser Vardis was one of her best guys and she was totally careless with his life to satisfy some crime against her husband that she knows damn well wasn't the fault of Tyrion. When I think of show Dany telling Jorah and Barristan that she won't gamble with their lives when they first get to Meereen--that sort of thought wouldn't occur to a woman like Lysa for a second. She thinks this guys owe her their loyalty and she does absolutely nothing to earn it. Catelyn OTOH you can see that she cares about people on a human level. It's such a waste.

 

Meanwhile the supposedly dishonorable sellsword is the only one who stands up for the innocent man in the room. 

 

Interesting too that it's the show that directly addresses the honor issue with Bronn making it clear that there's a reason why he doesn't fight with honor as he pointedly looks over at where Vardis has just gone through the Moon Door. 

 

You have to go to the extended branch of the Lannister family but they have a lot of normal sounding names like Jason, Joanna, Joy, Martyn, Jaime, Willem, Genna, Damian, etc. 

[Lady S.]

It's so tragic and screwed up the more that I think about it. Ser Vardis was one of her best guys and she was totally careless with his life to satisfy some crime against her husband that she knows damn well wasn't the fault of Tyrion.

It's bad enough when you think she actually cared about Jon's murder but becomes so much worse after learning she actually murdered him. I like your line above about Lysa probably thinking she's still cute and beautiful because it reminds me of Feast Cersei refusing notice that she's gaining weight, and I love all Lysa/Cersei parallels.

The Brandon/Petyr duel flashback is definitely my favorite part of this chapter too. Petyr's refusal to yield must have been frustrating after a while and he probably had plenty of more minor wounds before Brandon made the ending cut. It comes off as Petyr being willing to die if he couldn't win which is really pretty sad, but also maybe an early hint of an obsessive personality. I'm guessing that not allowing Cat to visit him may have been Hoster's way of punishing Petyr for presuming to want to marry above his rank in the first place. Lysa nursing him is our second hint of Lysafinger, the first being Petyr telling Cat he was always a good friend to Lysa when they were both at court back in Cat IV.

[turkturkelton]

Man, what if Petyr had died after his duel with Brandon? He never would have talked Lysa into killing Jon, Robert never would have come north with the Lannisters and their two storied carriage, Bran never would have had his "fall", Ned wouldn't have become hand...The Starks stayed together alive and happy, and nothing all that devastating occurs? Although, maybe Cersei would still have orchestrated Robert's death by boar, which would have led to Stannis making his claim.

[Avaleigh]

Man, what if Petyr had died after his duel with Brandon?

That's a pretty good what if. I agree that war would likely have happened anyway but I don't think the Starks would have suffered in the same ways that they ended up suffering especially wrt to Sansa, Bran, and Arya. Jon probably wouldn't have gone to the Wall either.

 

My what if for this chapter is what if Bronn had lost and Tyrion had been thrown out of the Moon Door? Tywin is still going to be pissed obviously but if there are men who testify to the fact that Tyrion requested the TBC would it still make sense for Tywin to retaliate? Would he want to or would he just try to extract something from the Starks and Lysa in order to satisfy the blow to his House? What about Cersei? Does she try to force Robert to make the Starks/North and the Arryns/Vale pay in some way or does she just let it go because she's secretly relieved? What reasonable thing could they ask for to make up for Tyrion's death and what sort of precedent does that set? To me it seems like it would be almost impossible to get around war so in a way Lysa got lucky that Vardis lost even though it's sad and he should never have been put in the position in the first place. I'm not sure what Jaime would do but obviously he'd be the most heartbroken and vengeful. 

 

I wonder what Ned would have thought if Tyrion had lost his life under those circumstances? 

Edited July 16, 2015 by Avaleigh

[benteen]

Forgot to mention but yeah, that detail about Brandon taking off most of his armor when he saw how little Petyr had surprised me.  He was a hothead but at least he had some of the Stark honor.  Though having Stark honor...

[turkturkelton]

Was it honor the made Brandon take off his armor or strategy? Perhaps he was smarter than Vardis and knew that his opponent would be lighter and and quicker, and didn't want to slow himself down and tire himself more quickly?

[Hecate7]

That's a pretty good what if. I agree that war would likely have happened anyway but I don't think the Starks would have suffered in the same ways that they ended up suffering especially wrt to Sansa, Bran, and Arya. Jon probably wouldn't have gone to the Wall either.

 

My what if for this chapter is what if Bronn had lost and Tyrion had been thrown out of the Moon Door? Tywin is still going to be pissed obviously but if there are men who testify to the fact that Tyrion requested the TBC would it still make sense for Tywin to retaliate? Would he want to or would he just try to extract something from the Starks and Lysa in order to satisfy the blow to his House? What about Cersei? Does she try to force Robert to make the Starks/North and the Arryns/Vale pay in some way or does she just let it go because she's secretly relieved? What reasonable thing could they ask for to make up for Tyrion's death and what sort of precedent does that set? To me it seems like it would be almost impossible to get around war so in a way Lysa got lucky that Vardis lost even though it's sad and he should never have been put in the position in the first place. I'm not sure what Jaime would do but obviously he'd be the most heartbroken and vengeful. 

 

I wonder what Ned would have thought if Tyrion had lost his life under those circumstances? 

 

 

He'd have been very upset, I think, because not long after he'd have discovered some sort of proof of Tyrion's innocence. That Tyrion was innocent, and placed in a position to demand, then lose, a trial by combat would have sickened Ned. I think he'd have tried to negotiate a surrender with Tywin, because the entire trial set up for Tyrion was profoundly dishonorable from start to finish. On the other hand, taking Cersei down would be much more urgent for him, and he might have worked a great deal faster and told Robert more sooner.

 

Was it honor the made Brandon take off his armor or strategy?

 

 

It was honor. Brandon was a Stark, and he was impulsive, not a strategist really. Besides, he did not want to kill his opponent.

[Holmbo]

I'm not saying every other character is named Vrmaxrar or anything. Just that Robert seems unusually commonplace. Most other major characters with regular names have some different spelling to them. King Bob stands out to me.

[Constantinople]

Meanwhile the supposedly dishonorable sellsword is the only one who stands up for the innocent man in the room.

But Bronn isn't fighting to defend the weak or for truth, justice and the American way.

Bronn took a calculated risk that he could win and that, as a result, the richest and most powerful family in the land would owe him big time.

 

 

I'm not saying every other character is named Vrmaxrar or anything. Just that Robert seems unusually commonplace. Most other major characters with regular names have some different spelling to them. King Bob stands out to me.

It sure does.

I'm guessing the point of it all is to distinguish Westeros from Medieval Europe in general, but after a while I find the odd names, the non-standard spellings, Ser instead of Sir and rapers instead of rapists a tiresome affectation.

[Avaleigh]

But Bronn isn't fighting to defend the weak or for truth, justice and the American way.Bronn took a calculated risk that he could win and that, as a result, the richest and most powerful family in the land would owe him big time. It sure does.I'm guessing the point of it all is to distinguish Westeros from Medieval Europe in general, but after a while I find the odd names, the non-standard spellings, Ser instead of Sir and rapers instead of rapists a tiresome affectation.

True, but I still think there's a kind of irony in Bronn volunteering to fight for the guy who turns out to be innocent meanwhile the knight whis automatically considered to be the toughest and most honorable turns out to be fighting for a woman who is about as dishonorable as they come. I'm not claiming that Bronn is all righteous here or anything. Just that that it's interesting to consider everyone at the Vale's preconceived notions of him when I consider the bigger picture.

Edited July 16, 2015 by Avaleigh

[Holmbo]

Yes Bronn's actions here are really the most honorable. Even though that is not his motives.

[Avaleigh]

Jon V

 

It's graduation day for eight of the new recruits of the Night's Watch and Jon, Dareon, Pyp, and Grenn are among those that Thorne is passing on to officially become brothers of the Night's Watch.

 

Ser Alliser Thorne tells the graduates that they're all hopeless cases and that they're really meant to be shit shovelers and ditch diggers but since they need to make room for the new recruits that are being brought in, Thorne is going to pass them on so that the Lord Commander can find a place for them within the Watch. He goes on to tell the guys that some may even call them men of the Night's Watch now that they've been passed but as far as Thorne is concerned, they're all summer boys who will "drop like flies" once winter comes.

 

After Thorne's pep talk to the recent graduates, they start celebrating and congratulating each other while Sam stands off to the side and watches them. Jon offers Sam some of the wine that they've been sharing but Sam declines and it's obvious that he's bummed out that he hasn't been passed along with the rest of the guys.

 

Sam tries to put on a brave face though and congratulates Jon telling him that he'll be First Ranger one day like his uncle Benjen was. Jon corrects Sam and tells him that Benjen is still First Ranger because Jon refuses to believe that Benjen is dead.

 

Their conversation is interrupted by Halder who wants Jon to pass back the wine skin and when Pyp tries to snatch it away from Jon, he ends up getting wine in Jon's face so a playful snow fight ends up taking place. By the time Jon is done having snow thrown at him he notices that Sam has gone.

 

The new brothers who are soon to take their vows are given a special meal to mark occasion and the mood in general is happy and festive.

 

The guys start wondering about where they'll be assigned and it seems that most of them hope to become rangers. Dareon thinks that Jon is a shoo in to be a ranger and then has an awkward moment where he too mentions Benjen in the past tense as though he is dead. Jon repeats his belief that Benjen is still alive and is still officially the First Ranger.

 

Jon isn't enjoying the feast as much as everyone else is and eventually confides to Pyp that he's worried about Sam because he didn't show up for dinner. Pyp thinks it is odd that Sam is missing a meal and wonders if he's ill.

 

Jon tells Pyp that Sam is likely scared because he's going to be alone facing up to a bunch of new recruits who probably aren't going to give him a break the way that Jon and the others have. Pyp tries to tell Jon that Jon has done all he can to help Sam but Jon feels like his efforts weren't enough.

 

Feeling restless now, Jon decides to go for a ride and as he's riding he begins to think of all of the places in the world he'll never have the chance to visit because he's going to be expected to stay at the Wall once he swears his vow.

 

Jon tells himself that he hasn't sworn the vow yet and that he could technically just leave right now and head for Winterfell. He thinks he could be with his brothers again by the full moon.

 

Your half brothers, a voice inside reminded him. And Lady Stark, who will not welcome you. There was no place for him in Winterfell, no place in King’s Landing either. Even his own mother had not had a place for him. The thought of her made him sad. He wondered who she had been, what she had looked like, why his father had left her. Because she was a whore or an adulteress, fool. Something dark and dishonorable, or else why was Lord Eddard too ashamed to speak of her?

 

Jon ultimately ends up turning away from the Kingsroad and as he's riding back to Castle Black he realizes what it is that he needs to do. 

 

Jon goes to Maester Aemon's apartments where he is informed by Chett that the maester is sleeping. Jon insists that the matter cannot wait until morning and says that he wouldn't be there unless it were something truly important. He tells Chett that he'll stand there all night if he has to so Chett finally agrees to let Jon in and go and wake Maester Aemon.

 

Jon apologizes to Aemon for waking him but Aemon says that he doesn't sleep all that much these days anyway so it's kind of nice to have a late night visitor. He asks Jon why he's there at such a late hour.

 

Jon gets straight to the point and tells Aemon that he wants Sam to be moved past the training stage so that he can be accepted into the Night's Watch. Before Aemon can speak, Chett interjects and claims that this isn't something for Aemon to be concerned about.

 

Aemon basically says that the recruits are Thorne's department and it's up to him to say who is ready and who isn't. He wants to know why Jon is coming to him with this matter. Jon says it's because people like the Lord Commander listen to Aemon.

 

Aemon wants to know if Sam is sick or injured and Jon responds that Sam most certainly will be if Aemon isn't going to help him.

 

Confessing to Aemon about how he originally got the recruits to go easy on Sam, Jon goes on to say that Sam is going to be seriously hurt or possibly even killed without the protection of Jon and his other friends. Jon mentions that even his sister Arya would be able to make short work of Sam in the yard and she's only a ten year old.

 

For some reason, Chett is furious with the direction the conversation has taken and starts calling Sam a bunch of insulting names. Aemon asks what Chett would do with Sam and Chett thinks that Sam should be forced to stay in training even if that means he has to be there for years. Jon argues that it would be stupid and ridiculous to keep Sam in training until he's killed over it and mentions a conversation that he once had with Maester Luwin.

 

“He told me that a maester’s collar is made of chain to remind him that he is sworn to serve,” Jon said, remembering. “I asked why each link was a different metal. A silver chain would look much finer with his grey robes, I said. Maester Luwin laughed. A maester forges his chain with study, he told me. The different metals are each a different kind of learning, gold for the study of money and accounts, silver for healing, iron for warcraft. And he said there were other meanings as well. The collar is supposed to remind a maester of the realm he serves, isn’t that so? Lords are gold and knights steel, but two links can’t make a chain. You also need silver and iron and lead, tin and copper and bronze and all the rest, and those are farmers and smiths and merchants and the like. A chain needs all sorts of metals, and a land needs all sorts of people.”

 

Maester Aemon smiles as Jon tells this story and asks Jon to clarify his point.

 

Jon's point is that the Night's Watch needs all sorts of men even guys like Sam. Just because Sam isn't a warrior type or good with a sword doesn't mean that he can't be useful to the Watch. He wants to know why Sam shouldn't be allowed to be a steward?

 

Chett is a steward and he gets angry when Jon says this. He says that being a steward is hard work and claims that a coward like Sam wouldn't be fit for it. Maester Aemon asks if Sam can do anything like hunting or farming and Jon admits that he can't. Chett is pleased to hear this and laughs.

 

Jon says that Sam is great with math, reading, and writing and could also be a help to Maester Aemon with the ravens and animals. He knows there are many things that Sam can do instead of fighting and again points out that the Night's Watch needs every man it can get. It makes no sense for him to be killed when he'll be able to be useful.

 

Maester Aemon takes a few moments to respond and when he finally does he tells Jon that Maester Luwin did a good job in teaching him. He tells Jon that his mind is as sharp as his blade and promises him that he'll think about everything that he's said.

[JohnFB]

I am loving this. Please continue

[Holmbo]

Where is Benjen?! I really hope there is actually a pay off to his disappearance. Not just some regular explanation like some random wildlings killed him.

I still think Jon could have gone to serve as a men at arms at one of Ned's bannermen. What sort of way is that to keep your promise to your sister to protect her child Ned? Sticking him up at the wall.

[benteen]

I think a lot of Northern houses would have been more than happy to take Jon in.

[Constantinople]

It's a pity they didn't keep the story of how Sam became a steward in the show. It was a good example of how early Jon showed some leadership. I'm not sure why they dropped it. I don't think it would have taken up that much air time.

As for Benjen's disappearance, I don't think there needs to be a payoff, unless it's to fake people out by referencing him in the previouslies of an episode.

[vibeology]

It seems to me the best place to send Jon would have been to the Reeds. Howland would protect Jon with his life and the Reeds are isolated enough that Jon would have been safe from prying eyes.

If Jon hadn't volunteered for the wall, it seems the Crannogmen would have been the right fit.

[Avaleigh]

Tyrion VI

 

Tyrion and Bronn are taking shelter just off of the high road and Tyrion starts gathering wood to make a fire. When Bronn sees what Tyrion is doing, he wonders if Tyrion has some sort of mad death wish and tells him that the mountain clans are going to be totally up their asses once they spot that fire. He tells Tyrion that he has every intention of surviving this journey and Tyrion asks him just how he plans on surviving.

 

Bronn doesn't think that they'll be able to fight back against the mountain clans but he does think that if they ride hard at night, sleep during the day, keep away from the main road whenever possible, "make no noise", and refrain from lighting any fires that they just might be able to make it to the Riverlands.

 

Tyrion makes it sound like Bronn is the one with a death wish if that's the best plan he can come up with and tells the sellsword that he certainly doesn't plan on staying around to bury him.

 

Bronn seems almost amused that Tyrion thinks that he could outlive him and Tyrion tells Bronn that with that sort of plan he might easily end up falling down the mountain and cracking his head open. Tyrion also doesn't want to risk losing one of their horses and argues that the mountain clans will likely find them even if they take the measures that Bronn is suggesting.

 

Bronn says that if Tyrion is right then they're basically dead men walking and Tyrion says that if this is the case then he might as well die feeling as comfortable as possible under the circumstances. Not only does he want to get the fire going but he wants them to have some hot food and wonders if there is any decent game to be had.

 

Apparently Lysa didn't really give them anything particularly edible and Tyrion makes a crack about being too far away from a dentist to chance eating all of the rock like cuisine they were allowed to take with them from the Eyrie.

 

Bronn tells Tyrion that he can certainly find them some meat but asks Tyrion what he'd do if Bronn took both horses and simply abandoned him. He tells him he'd have a better chance of making it alone and Tyrion admits that he'd likely die without Bronn's help.

 

Tyrion tells Bronn that he knows perfectly well that Bronn will do whatever it takes to save his own skin first and brings up how Bronn killed his "friend" Chiggen another sellsword who had been part of the group that volunteered to help Catelyn take Tyrion to the Eyrie. Bronn defends his actions here and says that Chiggen's moaning from his wound would have brought the mountain clans down on them. He also clarifies and says that the guy had been no friend of his, he was just some dude that he used to ride with. He tells Tyrion that he might have fought for him in the trial by combat but Tyrion shouldn't mistakenly think that this means that Bronn loves him or anything like that.

 

Tyrion tells Bronn that he doesn't want his love just his blade. Bronn can't help but smile at this and tells Tyrion that he's as ballsy as a sellsword. He wonders how Tyrion knew that he'd end up helping him.

 

Tyrion explains that he knows Bronn is all about the money and that there was only so much that he could have hoped to receive from Lady Stark even after all of his assistance to help get her from the Riverlands to the Eyrie. Tyrion says that there's no way that Catelyn would have taken Bronn into permanent service because the Starks are essentially too proud to have lowborn sellsword scum on their payroll.

 

Bronn again comments on the boldness of Tyrion's tongue and says that Tyrion might have it cut out one day if he doesn't learn to watch his mouth. Tyrion tells Bronn that he hears that all the time and apologizes if he offends him and goes on to explain in detail why Bronn is considered to be lowborn scum.

 

Bronn finally helps Tyrion get the fire started and Tyrion comments on how useful Bronn is and adds that he's almost as good with a sword as his brother Jaime is. He asks Bronn what it is he wants and says if it's gold, land, and women he can totally make that happen as long as Bronn keeps him alive.

 

Bronn asks him what happens if Tyrion dies and Tyrion tells him that he would be sure to have at least one sincere mourner because the money will stop for Bronn the moment Tyrion is gone. Bronn makes up his mind to stick with Tyrion for now but tells him that he isn't going to bow and scrape and observe other courtesies just because Tyrion happens to officially outrank him.

 

Tyrion thinks now is probably a good time to tell Bronn that he understands that Bronn is the type of person who would sell him out if it was to his benefit so Tyrion tells him that if the day ever comes where he is tempted by some other offer that Tyrion will be sure to match whatever price it is that the other side is offering because he really does enjoy living.

 

Bronn goes off to hunt them some dinner and Tyrion is tasked with caring for their horses.

 

An hour later they have a goat roasting on a fire and Tyrion is wishing that they had some wine to go with it. Bronn adds that having a woman and a bunch of other swords would be nice too. He's thinking about how the mountain clans will be descending on them soon and wonders if it wouldn't be better to just let themselves get killed in their sleep.

 

Tyrion says that he expects the clansmen to come long before they're asleep and Bronn can see that Tyrion is forming some kind of plan. Tyrion confesses that it's really more of a gamble and Bronn questions the wisdom of gambling when their lives are on the line. Tyrion asks Bronn what other choices they have.

 

The goat is an improvement on the food that Tyrion was given while he was stuck in the sky cell and this makes Bronn bring up the fact that Tyrion gave his turnkey and tormentor a sack of gold before leaving the Eyrie. Tyrion explains that "a Lannister always pays his debts."

 

Tyrion remembers Mord's shock that Tyrion kept his word about the gold and it seems that Tyrion has extended Mord the offer of Mord coming to work at Casterly Rock if he ever gets tired of working for Lady Arryn.

 

Bronn wants to know what Tyrion's plans are if they do manage to make it to the river and Tyrion says that they'll either go to King's Landing or Casterly Rock. Tyrion has questions about that troublesome dagger and Bronn seems surprised to learn that Tyrion has indeed been telling the truth about his innocence all of this time.

 

They finish eating and Tyrion wonders what is taking the mountain men so long. Bronn says that if he were in their position he'd probably feel like it was some sort of trap. Tyrion suggests that they sing and begins whistling a familiar tune. Bronn thinks that Tyrion is slightly mad and Tyrion asks Bronn if he knows the song. Bronn says that he's heard it around various inns and brothels.

 

The song is Myrish and Tyrion tells Bronn that the words are sad and sweet and that the first girl he ever had sex with used to sing it to him. Tyrion tells Bronn about how he met this girl one evening when he and Jaime were riding back from Lannisport.

 

According to Tyrion, they came upon a screaming girl who was being chased by two men. Jaime ends up riding off to deal with the two attackers and Tyrion ends up staying to protect the girl. The girl was about fourteen, roughly a year older than Tyrion was at the time, and was the orphan daughter of a crofter. Tyrion takes the girl back to an inn, feeds her, chats with her and ends up in bed with her later that evening. She cries after they have sex but then kisses him and sings him the aforementioned Myrish song.

 

Bronn is amazed to learn that Tyrion actually married the crofter's daughter and Tyrion says that all it took was some silver, a few lies, and a drunken septon to make it happen. Tyrion knew better than to try to bring his bride home to Casterly Rock so he bought her a little cottage and the two played house for a fortnight before the septon sobered up and ended up confessing everything to Tyrion's father. Tyrion says his marriage ended after that.

 

Bronn, the sweet summer sellsword, asks if Tyrion's father had the girl sent away.

 

Tyrion says that his father did a lot more than that. First, his father had Jaime tell Tyrion the truth, that the girl was a whore and that Jaime had arranged the entire thing so that Tyrion could lose his virginity. Jaime supposedly had to pay twice as much because the girl was a virgin.

 

“After Jaime had made his confession, to drive home the lesson, Lord Tywin brought my wife in and gave her to his guards. They paid her fair enough. A silver for each man, how many whores command that high a price? He sat me down in the corner of the barracks and bade me watch, and at the end she had so many silvers the coins were slipping through her fingers and rolling on the floor, she . . . ” The smoke was stinging his eyes. Tyrion cleared his throat and turned away from the fire, to gaze out into darkness. “Lord Tywin had me go last,” he said in a quiet voice. “And he gave me a gold coin to pay her, because I was a Lannister, and worth more.”

 

Bronn says that he would have killed the man who did that to him. Tyrion tells him that he might get that chance one day and repeats that a Lannister always pays his debts.

 

Tyrion is tired now and tells Bronn to wake him if it seems like they're about to die. He dreams about being in the sky cell again only this time he's the gaoler and his father is his prisoner.

 

Bronn wakes Tyrion from his dream and it seems the clansmen have finally arrived. Tyrion invites them to share their food and fire.

 

A voice from the group tells them that they're on their mountain eating their goat. Tyrion agrees that it's their goat and asks the name of the man speaking. The guy tells Tyrion that he'll be able to tell his gods in the afterlife that it was Gunthor son of Gurn of the Stone Crows who sent him there. Shagga son of Dolf wants Tyrion to let the gods know about him as well.

 

A bunch of other guys shout out their names and Tyrion notes that a lot of these guys are armed with pitchforks and scythes rather than swords. He also introduces himself as Tyrion son of Tywin, of the Clan Lannister, the Lions of the Rock. He says that he'll pay for the goat they've eaten.

 

Gunthor wants to know what Tyrion plans on paying them and Tyrion says that he has silver but the Stone Crows say that would be like paying them with their own money because as far as they're concerned any money that Tyrion might have is already theirs. He says that Tyrion and Bronn have nothing left to give them now but their lives and asks Tyrion how he'd like to die.

 

Tyrion says that he'd like to die in bed with a woman at the age of eighty, preferably after having had wine and a blowjob, and this comment makes Shagga laugh out loud but he's the only one who seems amused. Still, Tyrion's comment must have been somewhat amusing to Gunthor too because he determines that Tyrion can be allowed to live so that he can help them with milking goats and making the mothers of their clan laugh.

 

Bronn is on his feet now and asks the Stone Crows which of them is going to die first.

 

Tyrion shouts "No!" at Bronn and tries to diffuse the situation by telling Gunthor that his House is incredibly rich and powerful and that if the Stone Crows are willingly to allow them to travel safely through the mountains that they will be rewarded beyond their wildest dreams.

 

Gunthor states that the gold of a lord is worth less than the promises of a halfman. Tyrion responds that he might well be a halfman but says that at least he has the courage to face his enemies. He points out that Stone Crows can do nothing more than shiver and hide any time the knights of the Vale ride by.

 

The Stone Crows roar and growl and get all pissed off when Tyrion says this but Tyrion does his best to act like he isn't nervous. He brings up the fact they aren't at all well armed and says that his father's smith shits better steel than what they have.

 

Shagga wants to know if Tyrion is still going to mock the quality of his weapons after he uses one of those weapons to cut off Tyrion's cock but Gunthor surprisingly shuts Shagga down here and says that he wants to hear more of what Tyrion has to say. He asks Tyrion again what he would give the Stone Crows in order to keep their lives and wonders if they'd be able to get swords, mail, lances, etc.

 

Tyrion says that he'll be able to get them all of that and more. He smiles and says that he'll be able to give them the Vale of Arryn.

[Avaleigh]

I have to say that I'm pretty impressed with Tyrion's tap dancing skills overall. He managed to save his life with one cheeky comment. I also give a couple of points to the Stone Crows for wanting to make the moms laugh.

I can't help but feel like Bronn jinxed himself with that comment about outliving Tyrion.

Lol that Ser Lyn Corbray tells Tyrion and Bronn not to come back to the Eyrie again as if they're the ones who messed up or something. Did Tyrion just not win a trial by combat that was given the blessing of the Seven?

Another thing that stood out to me is how even the ruthless and mercenary Bronn is shocked by Tyrion's Tysha story.

Honestly, the story still doesn't make all that much sense to me and I feel like this is another area where GRRM should have made the characters or at least Tyrion's character older.

Edited July 18, 2015 by Avaleigh

[benteen]

I do understand why the show took out Tyrion's involvement in Tysha's gang-rape.  Even under duress from Tywin, I imagine that was something that wouldn't have gone over well with the audience.

[Avaleigh]

Tyrion's age here makes me put him firmly in the victim camp when it comes to being a participant in Tysha's rape. He was ill equipped to stand up to Tywin on every level in my opinion. I can even see Tywin threatening to kill her if Tyrion had had the nerve to try to refuse. I don't think that happened, I think Tyrion knew better at that point than to refuse, but I can see him thinking that it would play out that way if he'd attempted to try. 

 

Interesting too that Tyrion says that there's still time for Tywin to be killed over the Tysha matter. I've noticed multiple incidents of foreshadowing for the third book and this is one more to throw on to the pile. 

 

At two different points I almost put Stone Men instead of Stone Crows. I do wonder how they ended up calling themselves that. The stone part makes sense to me but why crows? I feel like crows have such an association with the Night's Watch and even though the Stone Crows aren't wildlings I feel like they'd have a similar sort of contempt for the men of the Night's Watch. 

[Avaleigh]

Eddard XI

 

Ned is seated on the Iron Throne and it's just as uncomfortable as Robert warned him it would be. Ned's wounded leg only makes the experience of sitting there even worse and the throne is designed in such a way that it prevents a person from leaning back. It is said that Aegon the Conqueror believed that "a king should never sit easy".

 

Ned's mood overall is rather sullen and he damns Aegon for what he thinks is arrogance and then damns Robert too for being away hunting while Ned is dealing with a river of shit because of the situation with Catelyn and Tyrion.

 

There are villagers in the throne room and they are all kneeling before Ned. They look disheveled, bloody, and fearful. Ned asks them to rise to their feet because he doesn't trust what a man would tell him if he is on his knees.

 

The villagers are survivors from an attack by Lannister men on the holdfast of Sherrer. A brewer named Joss is asked to speak and for a moment the man seems to think that he's addressing the King himself so Ned briefly wonders how it is possible that a man can live so close to King's Landing and not have the faintest idea of what his King would look like.

 

Joss explains that he used to keep an ale house but it's been burned to the ground along with practically everything else at Sherrer. One man emphasizes that these weren't raiders and that they didn't care about stealing anything, they simply wanted to destroy. Another man talks about how cruelly his apprentice was run down and that the men treated it almost as though it were a game.

 

One woman talks about how her mother was killed and, while she can't bear to speak of it, it's also fairly certain that she has been raped by these Lannister men.

 

Ser Raymun Darry talks about how people were burned alive in Wendish Town after taking shelter in a timbered holdfast. After the place caught fire and people began to flee they were shot down with arrows even women who were carrying babies.

 

Varys quietly comments on how dreadful it all is.

 

Joss adds that some of the men wanted to try to smoke them out of the stone holdfast of Sherrer but the Mountain suggested to the men that they go upriver and hit Mummer's Ford instead.

 

Ned thinks about the Iron Throne.

 

Ned could feel cold steel against his fingers as he leaned forward. Between each finger was a blade, the points of twisted swords fanning out like talons from arms of the throne. Even after three centuries, some were still sharp enough to cut. The Iron Throne was full of traps for the unwary. The songs said it had taken a thousand blades to make it, heated white-hot in the furnace breath of Balerion the Black Dread. The hammering had taken fifty-nine days. The end of it was this hunched black beast made of razor edges and barbs and ribbons of sharp metal; a chair that could kill a man, and had, if the stories could be believed.

 

Ned still doesn't quite understand how he ended up being Hand of the King and being the one who has to seek justice for these people. He asks how they know for sure that it was a response from House Lannister.

 

Ser Karyl tells Ned that the men were all mailed and mounted and one of the villagers adds that these weren't common mounts but actual warhorses.

 

Littlefinger wonders if the attackers couldn't have stolen such fine horses. Ned asks how many men were in the raiding party and Joss says there were at least one hundred. Another man says fifty and one woman says hundreds and comments that it was like the strength of an army. Ned says that this woman might be closer to the truth than she realizes. 

 

They determine that this was the work of Gregor Clegane and people in the throne room start whispering and muttering because everyone knows that Clegane is a bannerman of Tywin Lannister.

 

Grand Maester Pycelle speaks up and says that there's no way that Marq can know that the outlaw in question is Gregor Clegane and says that there are many large men in the realm. Pycelle asks why Clegane should turn brigand when he is an anointed knight.

 

Ser Marq says that Clegane is no knight and is only Lord Tywin's "mad dog" so Pycelle urges Ned to remind Ser Marq that Tywin is the father of their Queen. Ned thanks Pycelle for pointing out the obvious and notices that certain people are leaving the throne room and suspects that Cersei and others are likely being informed about the discussion that is taking place.

 

As Ned is looking around the throne room he spots Sansa and Septa Mordane and he can't help but feel somewhat angry that they've chosen today of all days to have a Bring Your Daughter to Work Day. At the same time he knows that there is no way that Septa Mordane could have anticipated that this particular day at court would be unlike any average one.

 

Littlefinger wants to know where these knights were when these holdfasts were being assaulted and Ser Karl tells him that he and Ser Marq were below the Golden Tooth. Ser Karl says that once Edmure learned of the atrocities being committed he told the men to find what survivors they could and bring them to King's Landing.

 

Ser Raymun Darry explains that he'd gone to Riverrun at Edmure's command and by the time he made it back to his own lands to fight that Clegane's men were already riding back for the Westerlands.

 

Littlefinger asks what they'll do if Clegane and his men come again and Ser Marq answers that they'll water the burnt fields with the blood of those men. Ser Karl explains that Edmure has sent men to every village and holdfast in the Riverlands.

 

And that may be precisely what Lord Tywin wants, Ned thought to himself, to bleed off strength from Riverrun, goad the boy into scattering his swords. His wife’s brother was young, and more gallant than wise. He would try to hold every inch of his soil, to defend every man, woman, and child who named him lord, and Tywin Lannister was shrewd enough to know that.

 

Littlefinger wants to know what the knights of the Riverlands want from the Crown if they feel that their lands are now being protected.

 

Ser Raymun says that they want justice for what the Lannisters have done and justice for their smallfolk.

 

Ned learns that Edmure wants to pay the Lannisters back with steel but it seems that Hoster Tully has insisted that they first get permission to do so from the King.

 

Ned is grateful to Hoster Tully for having the wisdom to not attack before getting leave from the crown. He knows that if the Tullys simply retaliate against the Lannisters that Tywin and Cersei will claim that they are being attacked without provocation.

 

Ned has no idea what Robert will believe when he hears about everything.

 

Grand Maester Pycelle suggests that the people of the Riverlands take their accusations to Tywin and have Tywin deliver justice to Clegane but Ned insists that this is a matter for the crown to settle. Pycelle then suggests dealing with the situation when Robert returns from the hunt but Ned says that Robert may not return for days and in any case Robert specifically asked him to rule in his place while he's gone.

 

Ned asks Ser Robar Royce to bring word to Robert in order to give him a heads up on what's happening.

 

Ser Marq wants to know if they'll be able to retaliate against Clegane and the Lannisters but Ned doesn't think that killing Clegane's men and burning his land is the way to bring peace back to the realm.

 

Ned tells the villagers that he won't be able to bring back their dead or their possessions but he hopes to be able to give them some sort of justice. He then laments the fact that he isn't in the physical condition to do his own killing.  

 

Ser Loras Tyrell pleads with Ned to be allowed to fight on his behalf and Littlfinger can't help but laugh and tell Loras about how he's sure he'll have his head handed to him if he tries to do something like execute Gregor Clegane.

 

Loras is all indignant and says that he doesn't fear Clegane.

 

Ned eased himself slowly back onto the hard iron seat of Aegon’s misshapen throne. His eyes searched the faces along the wall. “Lord Beric,” he called out. “Thoros of Myr. Ser Gladden. Lord Lothar.” The men named stepped forward one by one. “Each of you is to assemble twenty men, to bring my word to Gregor’s keep. Twenty of my own guards shall go with you. Lord Beric Dondarrion, you shall have the command, as befits your rank.”

 

Lord Beric bows and accepts his task. Ned then has Gregor and the men who attacked with him sentenced to death.

 

Ser Loras wants to know what part he'll play and Ned tells him that while he's sure that he has plenty of courage he also knows that Loras is more interested in vengeance because of what happened at the tourney and Ned wants to make sure that everyone knows this is about justice.

 

Ned asks Lord Beric to ride at first light and then says that he won't be hearing any more petitions to the throne today.

 

Loras is upset that he can't participate in bringing Clegane to justice and stalks away before Ned can finishing making the descent from the Iron Throne.

 

Once Ned is on the ground level of the throne room Varys starts talking to him and tells Ned that Ned is a bolder man than he is. Varys tells Ned that if it had been up to him he would have had Loras go and points out that if Ned is going to be enemies with the Lannisters that he might as well make friends with the Tyrells. Ned thinks Loras will get over his disappointment at not being the one given a license to kill the Mountain.

 

Varys also brings up the fact that Ned totally skipped over using Ser Ilyn Payne who is the official King's Justice and that there are certain people who might be insulted by that.

 

Ned claims that no slight was intended and says that he thought it would be better to use a man whose loyalty wasn't already pledged to House Lannister. Ned thinks to himself that he doesn't trust Ser Ilyn but chalks that up to the fact that he doesn't really like executioners.

 

Varys lets Ned know that he was watching Ser Ilyn Payne and that Payne is not a happy camper. Varys adds that he hopes the knight will get over the disappointment and comments on how much Payne loves his work.

Edited July 21, 2015 by Avaleigh

[Avaleigh]

I love the detail that the Iron Throne is said to have killed someone in the past. (I think it might have been Maegor the Cruel.) If this happens again in the story my vote is for Euron being taken out by the chair. I wouldn't mind seeing the Damphair drown him or maybe a death by dragonfire but I like the idea of the Iron Throne possibly having a will of its own. At the same time you'd think that it would have chomped on Aerys II at some point if this is really a thing.

 

Varys sees that Ned is making mistakes and he tries to council him but Ned still doesn't value his opinion it's obvious. Meanwhile Ned probably behaved in a way that suited Littlefinger just fine and that's why he has nothing to say to Ned. He doesn't try to influence him at all because like Varys he can tell that this is a mistake. 

 

Ned totally doesn't get it when Varys suggests the wisdom in getting cozy with the Tyrells. He doesn't see that while he's making enemies he should be making new friends to make up for it. 

 

I was amused by the anger Ned felt with Septa Mordane here even though he ends up telling himself that she couldn't have known what the day would be like. Last time Sansa had a POV this lady got drunk on her charge and left her to be escorted back to her room by the child killing Hound and Ned finally gets upset with her because she dares to show Sansa what her father's new job is.

 

When I first read this I thought that the lip service Varys pays to the plight of the people in the Riverlands was totally insincere but not I think that he probably did feel bad about it all. He's the only other person who says anything. Everyone else is just taking as one of those things that happens but Ned and Varys seem a little outraged. Varys is subtle about it of course but I think he feels sympathy for the smallfolk in a way that characters like Pycelle and Littlefinger most certainly do not. Even a character like Ser Marq seems more concerned about fighting and the actual insult than being disturbed by what the smallfolk of the Riverlands are going through. I feel like Ned picked up on a little of that too. 

 

I respect Ned for not wanting to retaliate by burning Clegane's lands or making the people who live on those lands suffer. They've probably had a horrible enough time as it is having to deal with the Mountain. 

[Avaleigh]

Sansa III

 

Sansa and Jeyne are having dinner together and Sansa is telling Jeyne about how Ned didn't choose Ser Loras to kill Gregor Clegane. She thinks that Ned's injured leg is what caused him to make the decision and is sure that he was have sent Ser Loras otherwise.

 

Ned is having supper in his rooms with his men and Arya was supposed to join Sansa and Jeyne but she's late in returning from her dancing lesson.

 

Jeyne's a little confused and briefly thinks that Sansa means that Loras is the one with the injured leg. Sansa clarifies that she's talking about her father's leg and says that he's been in a bad mood lately because it pains him so terribly.

 

Sansa is completely perplexed by Ned's decision regarding the Knight of Flowers and it's like she feels cheated out of seeing a fairy tale come to life. The Mountain is the monster in the tale with Loras being the handsome knight who slays him. Sansa certainly thinks that Loras looks the part and she gets all upset when Ned ends up refusing him. When she tells Septa Mordane how she feels the septa tells Sansa that it isn't her place to question her father's decisions.

 

Lord Baelish interjects here and says to Mordane that some of Ned's decisions probably could do with a bit of questioning. He compliments Sansa for having intelligence that is equal to her beauty and then bows in such a way that Sansa isn't sure whether or not he's mocking her.

 

Septa Mordane is upset when she realizes that Baelish has overheard their conversation and tries to downplay Sansa's comment saying that she didn't mean anything by it.

 

Littlefinger strokes his beard and asks Sansa why she would have sent Ser Loras and Sansa gives her silly little explanation about heroes and monsters. Littlefinger tells her that those aren't the reasons he would have given. He then smiles at Sansa, touches her cheek, and tells her that she might learn one day to her sorrow that life is not the way that it is in the songs.

 

Sansa leaves out the unsettling moment with Littlefinger when she's recapping the day's events to Jeyne. The memory of the conversation with him makes her feel uneasy.

 

Jeyne says that Ned ought to have sent Ser Ilyn since he's the King's Justice but Ser Ilyn gives Sansa the creeps and she says that she's glad that her father didn't pick him because he too seems like a kind of monster.

 

Jeyne thinks that Lord Beric is just as much of a hero as Ser Loras is but Sansa has her doubts. She thinks to herself that Beric may be handsome but at nearly twenty two he's rather old for her taste.

 

Sansa feels that Jeyne is being silly over Lord Beric and knows that there's no way someone of Beric's rank would ever pay attention to the daughter of a steward. Sansa thinks it would be mean if she says this to Jeyne though so she changes the subject and starts talking about how she had a dream of Joffrey taking the white hart.

 

In reality Sansa has only wished that this would happen but she thinks it sounds better if she says that it's a dream. She also thinks to herself that she knows in her heart that Joffrey is worthier than his drunken father.

 

Jeyne wants more dream details so Sansa tells her that in the dream Joffrey shoots the hart with a golden arrow and then ends up bringing it back to her.

 

In the songs, the knights never killed magical beasts, they just went up to them and touched them and did them no harm, but she knew Joffrey liked hunting, especially the killing part. Only animals, though. Sansa was certain her prince had no part in murdering Jory and those other poor men; that had been his wicked uncle, the Kingslayer. She knew her father was still angry about that, but it wasn’t fair to blame Joff. That would be like blaming her for something that Arya had done.

 

Jeyne mentions that she saw Arya earlier that day in the stables walking along on her hands. She asks Sansa why Arya would be doing something like that and Sansa replies that she doesn't know why Arya does anything.

 

Sansa then asks Jeyne if she wants to hear about the rest of her day at court and goes on to tell Jeyne about Yoren pleading for more men to bring to the Wall. Sansa tells Jeyne that Yoren was old and smelled bad and Sansa doesn't like this because she'd always imagined the Wall to be full of men who are like her presumably nice smelling uncle Benjen. Sansa thinks to herself that she feels truly sorry for her half brother Jon if this is what the Night's Watch is like.

 

Ned asks the court if there are any men who would honor their Houses by taking the black but no men come forward so Ned tells Yoren that he can have his pick of the dungeons of King's Landing.

 

Jeyne yawns and asks if there are any lemon cakes. Sansa is a little annoyed at being interrupted but thinks that lemon cakes are more interesting than what went on in the throne room that day so they go to the kitchens to see if they can find any. They can't find any so they end up taking a strawberry dessert and eating it right on the steps of the tower. They're all close, giggling, and gossiping and when Sansa finally heads off to bed she thinks to herself that she feels "almost as wicked as Arya."

 

The next morning Sansa wakes up early so that she can see Lord Beric and the others ride off and she basically feels like she's seeing a song come to life. She's proud to see Alyn holding the Stark banner and thinks to herself that he's more handsome than Jory was and that he'll likely be a knight one day.

 

At breakfast the Tower of the Hand is pretty empty now with so many of the men gone that Sansa is actually happy to see Arya.

 

Arya wants to know where everyone is and wonders if their father sent the men to hunt down Jaime. Sansa explains that they've gone off with Lord Beric in order to deal with Gregor Clegane. Sansa then asks Septa Mordane whether or not Gregor's head will decorate his own gates or those of King's Landing and the septa is shocked that Sansa would bring something like that up at the table and tells Sansa that she's been as bad as her sister lately.

 

Arya wants to know what Gregor did and Sansa tells her that he burned down a holdfast and murdered a bunch of people so Arya points out that Jaime was responsible for the deaths of Jory and the others. She also mentions what happened with Mycah but Sansa says that those situations aren't the same. She says that Mycah attacked Joffrey so Arya calls Sansa a liar.

 

Sansa tells Arya that she can call her names all day long but once she marries Joffrey she won't dare. She tells Arya that she'll eventually have to bow to her and call her 'Your Grace' so Arya throws a blood orange in Sansa's face and tells Her Grace that she has juice all over her face.

 

The juice gets into her eyes and stings. Her ivory silk dress is totally stained so Sansa loses it and tells Arya that she's horrible and that they ought to have killed her instead of Lady.

 

Septa Mordane is actually over the pair of them and sends them both back to their rooms and tells them that Ned is going to hear about everything they tried to pull at breakfast. Sansa is near tears now and tells Mordane that it isn't fair. Septa Mordane doesn't want to hear anymore and tells her that the matter isn't up for discussion.

 

Sansa walks away with her head held high and thinks to herself about how she's going to be a queen and how queens aren't supposed to cry in public. When she gets to her room and locks the door she has a total bitch fit over Arya and her dress and shrieks that she hates her sister. She takes off the dress and dumps it into the hearth. When she sees that her underskirt is stained as well it's apparently more than she can stand. She begins to sob, furiously rips off the rest of her clothes, and ends up crying herself to sleep.

 

Around midday there's a knock at the door and Septa Mordane tells Sansa that her father is ready to see her.

 

Sansa has been dreaming of Lady and whispers Lady's name. She asks for a moment so that she can dress and tries to make herself look beautiful. She is brought into the solar to see her father and is joined moments later by Arya.

 

Ned asks to speak to his daughters alone so Septa Mordane leaves them to it.

 

Sansa wastes no time in saying that Arya started it. She tells Ned about being called a liar, about getting the orange thrown at her, about how the dress the the Queen gave her has been ruined, how Arya hates that she's marrying Joffrey, and in general outlines the reasons why she thinks it sucks to have Arya for a sister.

 

Ned is already feeling impatient with Sansa and tells her that she's said enough.

 

Arya looks at her father and apologizes. She says that she was wrong and she asks for Sansa's forgiveness. Sansa seems to be shocked that Arya isn't arguing and asks Arya what she's supposed to do about her ruined dress. Arya suggests that she could wash it or make her a new one but Sansa dismisses both of these ideas knowing that it would be hopeless.

 

Ned tells his daughters that they aren't there to discuss dresses and tells them that he's sending them both back to Winterfell.

 

Sansa is stunned and she immediately starts to feel the tears come to her eyes again.

 

Arya tells their father that he can't send them back and Sansa pleads with him to not make them go. Ned smiles and says that it's nice to see that the two sisters can finally agree on something.

 

Sansa insists that she hasn't done anything wrong and says that she doesn't want to go back. She loves being at King's Landing. She loves court life and feels that there's so much of it that she hasn't seen. She feels like the tourney was the best day of her life and now she's going to have to leave before she gets to enjoy other upcoming balls and feasts. She tells Ned to send Arya away and swears that she'll be good. She promises that she'll be as courteous and noble as the Queen and this makes Ned's mouth twitch in frustration.

 

Ned tells his daughters that he's sending them back for their own protection due to what happened with his men. His men were murdered in the streets of King's Landing and Robert's response was to go hunting so Ned thinks that the girls will be safer at Winterfell.

 

Arya asks if they'll be able to take Syrio Forel with them and Sansa snaps and asks her why anyone would care about her stupid dancing instructor. Sansa says she just remembered another reason she can't leave--she's supposed to marry Prince Joffrey. She then goes on for a bit about how much she loves Joffrey and says that it's on the level of Queen Naerys's love for Prince Aemon or Jonquil's love for Florian. She insists that she wants to be Joffrey's queen and have his children.

 

Ned gently tells her that when the time is right he'll find a high lord for her to marry but that she must understand that Joffrey is no Prince Aemon.

“He is!” Sansa insisted. “I don’t want someone brave and gentle, I want him. We’ll be ever so happy, just like in the songs, you’ll see. I’ll give him a son with golden hair, and one day he’ll be the king of all the realm, the greatest king that ever was, as brave as the wolf and as proud as the lion.”

Arya made a face. “Not if Joffrey’s his father,” she said. “He’s a liar and a craven and anyhow he’s a stag, not a lion.”

Sansa felt tears in her eyes. “He is not! He’s not the least bit like that old drunken king,” she screamed at her sister, forgetting herself in her grief.

 

Ned gives Sansa an odd look and it's apparent that he's having a lightbulb moment where everything is snapping into focus. He shouts for Septa Mordane to return and tells his daughters that they're going to set sail as soon as he can find a proper ship. Ned even adds that Syrio Forel will be able to come with them if Forel is open to entering Ned's service. He tells his daughters not to mention these plans to anyone.

 

Sansa is crying as Septa Mordane is escorting her back. She feels that everything good is being taken away from her and she's going to go back to being bored and shut up. She thinks of Winterfell as being grey and bleak.

 

Septa Mordane tells her to stop crying and tells her that she is certain that her father is acting in her best interests. Arya tells Sansa that it won't be so bad and that the bright side is that they'll be able to be with Bran, Robb, Old Nan, and Hodor and everyone else. 

 

Something in Sansa snaps when she hears Hodor's name and she yells at Arya that she ought to marry Hodor because she's just like him--"stupid, hairy, and ugly!" She then pulls away from her sister's hand, goes to her room, and locks herself in.

Edited July 21, 2015 by Avaleigh

[polyhymnia]

The first really infamous Sansa chapter.  I read it in a vacuum (by which I mean I had no idea that she was a hugely hated character in some quarters) and it really never made me think anything but that she was barely old enough to be mooning over anyone (because she is 11 in the story instead of 13) and of course she is upset about the idea of leaving her imagined fairy tale for boring old Winterfell.  Her delusion about Joffrey is very understandable, IMO.

I've always wondered why D and D made her be super mean to Septa Mordane around this same timeframe in the story as there was never anything in the books that made me think she would dare be disrespectful to an adult in such an overt manner.

 

What if?  Of course, what if Ned had managed to get both of them sent back to Winterfell.  War would probably still had happened.  Ned would probably still have been executed but wouldn't have confessed because they weren't holding his daughters over his head.  He likely would have just lingered in the black cells.  Robb wouldn't have had as much impetus to become King in the North and might have instead sent men to join either Stannis or Renly.

Edited July 21, 2015 by polyhymnia

[Avaleigh]

So we have one more example of Septa Mordane using Arya as a form of criticism to Sansa right in front of Arya. It's really sad how often she does that. I wonder what Ned would think?

 

Sansa and Jeyne enjoying their dessert made me think about how little time Jeyne has left before everything goes to hell for her. I think that's why I took more notice of that moment than I would have otherwise. She's just a silly girl whose dreams are so unrealistic that even Sansa thinks she's ridiculous. It's kind of sad. 

 

Lol that Sansa thinks this nearly 22 year old guy is old. Even coming from an 11 year old that comment seems silly to me. 

 

I wonder if Syrio Forel would have been willing to go to Winterfell with Arya? One of the more interesting what if scenarios in the chapter. 

 

Again and again I'm seeing Arya at least trying with Sansa. She shouldn't have thrown the fruit obviously but I don't get the impression that she wants to cause Sansa pain.

 

Arya totally leaves out Rickon when she's going down the quick list of people she wants to see. 

 

I love Arya's seven hells line from the show when Sansa is going on about wanting to have Joffrey's offspring. 

 

I like the detail of Sansa dreaming of Lady and it feeling so real that Sansa calls her name. 

 

Sansa still hasn't seen Joffrey at his absolute worst yet. She hasn't even really heard whispers of his behavior. She's already twisted the incident at the Trident in her mind. I can totally see how she isn't understanding yet what a horror show this kid is going to turn out to be. 

[WearyTraveler]

I had literally no patience with Sansa before Ned's beheading.  I didn't hate her or anything of the sort, I just remember feeling very frustrated by her character.

 

I understand that she is young and naive, but here's Arya, who is even younger, being the bigger person an apologizing first.  Also, Arya had exactly the same upbringing as Sansa, with the same family, septa and maester, yet she doesn't buy into all the romanticized bullshit of the songs; instead, she admires the women who dared to be different from the norm, like Nymeria.  Furthermore, she had Joffrey pegged for the little shit he was almost as soon as she met him, way before the incident at the Trident.

 

Meanwhile, Sansa is just so enamored of living a fairy tale life that she goes into the most perverse denial.  Deep down she knows what happened and, in her heart, she actually sees Joffrey for who he is, otherwise, she wouldn't be so adamant in her internal monologue trying to convince herself of the opposite.  In later books I believe she actually has moments of self-reflection where she recognizes how deeply in denial she was here, for which I give the character props.  But I just can't with early Sansa! :D

 

I also felt, upon re-read that Ned was sheltering them too much by not explaining in further detail precisely why he was sending them back to Winterfell.  Perhaps if he had, Sansa would not have gone to the Queen to reveal her father's plans.  Had Ned been successful in sending them North, I agree that the war would have still happened, but I wonder if Cersei and Pycelle would have been much more careful ith Joffrey regarding Ned's life, since he would have been a perfectly good hostage to exert some pressure on Robb, and eventually exchange for Jamie.