AGOT 24 – Bran IV

“I don’t want any more stories,” Bran snapped, his voice petulant. He had liked Old Nan and her stories once. Before. But it was different now. They left her with him all day now, to watch over him and clean him and keep him from being lonely, but she just made it worse. “I hate your stupid stories.”

The old woman smiled at him toothlessly. “My stories? No, my little lord, not mine. The stories are, before me and after me, before you too.”

AGOT 25 – BRAN IV (GRRM)

POV character
Brandon Stark 4

Chapter (AGOT)
25 / 73

Chapter (ASOIAF)
25 / 344

Summary

Bran watches his brother Rickon playing with the wolves and is severely depressed. He hates that he has to stay in the inside with Old Nan and her stories, who may be the oldest person in the seven kingdoms. She once came to Winterfell as a wet nurse and never left, although all her family died or moved away. The only relative she has is the simple-minded Hodor who worked in the stables and only is able to mutter “Hodor”.

Bran thinks about is dream and the crow and how everybody has left him. He also feels very alone as a majority of his family is gone, together with guards and servants. His brothers Rickon and Robb are also not good companions as the first is still a baby (in Bran’s eyes) and the seconds tries to be “a Lord” and not a brother anymore as he has to fill this role now. Old Nan interrupts his thoughts and tells him the story about Brandon the Builder who raised Winterfell and started to build the wall thousands of years ago. But Brandon insists that she tells a scary story and so Old Nan tells him the story of the long winter, when the “white walkers” or “others” came the first time and attacked all living creatures. She tells that a last hero went out to find help – when suddenly Maester Luwin interrupts them.

Luwin and Hodor bring Bran to the hall as Tyrion has arrived and brings word from Jon. When they come to the hall the atmosphere is tense as Robb shows how much he dislikes the Lannister. Tyrion asks Bran how it happened that he fell, but Bran can not remember the climb or the fall. Robb stops the talk and reminds Tyrion to come to the point why he is here.

Tyrion shows a blueprint for a special saddle to Luwin and gives some instructions regarding the hors as he believes that Bran could ride again with special equipment. When the direwolves arrive with Rickon, they attack Tyrion instantly and have to be called of. Afterwards Tyrion leaves instantly to the Wintertown while Yoren and the black brothers stay at the castle.

Back in his room Bran falls asleep and dreams about climbing. Later he is brought to the hall to eat with the black brothers. They share news about Jon, but get quiet when they are asked about Benjen. Yoren then tells them that Benjen is assumed to be dead as he is out too long. Robb does not want to believe that and Bran insists that the children of the forest will help Benjen. Luwin does not think that is true, but Yoren says that nobody knows if some of the children are still north of the wall. AT the end of the meal Robb brings Bran back to his room and shows Bran – for a moment – the brother behind his official mask as he shows him how he misses his mother and tells him how they will visit the wall together, before he starts to cry.

Thoughts

• Do we know who is older: Maetser Aemon or Old Nan?
• Here we get the famous paragraph of Old Nan: “Oh, my sweet summer child,” Old Nan said quietly, “what do you know of fear? Fear is for the winter, my little lord, when the snows fall a hundred feet deep and the ice wind comes howling out of the north. Fear is for the long night, when the sun hides its face for years at a time, and little children are born and live and die all in darkness while the direwolves grow gaunt and hungry, and the white walkers move through the woods.” – Still in my list of favorite quotes.
• “They were cold things, dead things, that hated iron and fire and the touch of the sun, and every creature with hot blood in its veins.” – here we have it: Old Nan knows all the stuff that is needed against the others.
• This story about the last hero is interesting (and I totally forgot it). He went out with some companions and a horse and a dog, and when he lost all the others approach. Sadly we never hear the end of that story as Maester Luwin interrupts Old Nan. What a pity.
• “and set Bran in the high seat of the Starks, where the Lords of Winterfell had sat since the days when they called themselves the Kings in the North.” – I know we all see too much foreshadowing, but this seems very obvious.

Off-Topic

Holiday-season was very stressful so I lost track a little bit. Nevertheless, this is a marathon not a sprint, therefore I will proceed on my journey (especially interesting for me is: I see – for the first time “House of the dragon” which is quite a strange experience, as I know the world quite well – but I know nearly nothing about the story. I really enjoy that.). However, I will concentrate on ASoIaF again and hope to set up a regular schedule.

The Central Intelligence Agency, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons – Link

AGOT 23 – Daenerys III

“The common people pray for rain, healthy children, and a summer that never ends,” Ser Jorah told her. “It is no matter to them if the high lords play their game of thrones, so long as they are left in peace.” He gave a shrug. “They never are.”
Dany rode along quietly for a time, working his words like a puzzle box. It went against everything that Viserys had ever told her to think that the people could care so little whether a true king or a usurper reigned over them. Yet the more she thought on Jorah’s words, the more they rang of truth.

AGOT 24 – DAENERYS III (GRRM)

POV character
Daenerys Targaryen 3

Chapter (AGOT)
24 / 73

Chapter (ASOIAF)
24 / 344

Summary

Daenerys rides with a party through the great grassy plains, also called the Dothraki Sea and enjoys the day. Her brother is also there, although everybody urged him to stay behind, but he wants to wait until the “debt” is paid. Before the party catches up to her and Jorah Mormont, Daenerys ordes all of them to stay and rides further on her own. She thinks about the first time with the khalasar and Khal Drogo and how (in every aspect of life) she had to adapt. The first time was hard , she was depressed and wished to die, but after dreaming of a dragon, she suddenly embraced this new life and started to enjoy the ride in front of the khalasar. And then she relishes in the fact that she is now alone, as she is never alone.

Suddenly Viserys is by her side and shouts at her because she “dared to give him commands”. When he touches her rudely, she tries to resist, when suddenly a whip cracks loudly and Viserys is yanked backward. Jhogo – a dothraki – asks if she wants him dead or otherwise punished, but she insists to not harm him. Instead she orders to take his horse and let him walk back to the camp – an even more insulting punishment in the eyes of the dothraki. Viserys orders Mormont to resists the command, but he decides in Daenerys favor.

When riding back she and Jorah talk if Viserys would make a good king and both do not believe he would. Dany realizes that her brother will never be able to take back the throne as he is not a leader and nobody would follow him and neither can fight nor command an army. Back at the camp she is fascinated by the dragon eggs, but her handmaidens tell her that dragons are gone everywhere. In that night she waits for Drogo and weeks later when they have crossed the Dothraki sea her handmaiden Jhiqui assesses that Dany might be pregnant. She agrees as she had suspected all along. It is her fourteenth nameday.

Thoughts

• Down in the Shadow Lands beyond Asshai, they say there are oceans of ghost grass, taller than a man on horseback with stalks as pale as milkglass. It murders all other grass and glows in the dark with the spirits of the damned. The Dothraki claim that someday ghost grass will cover the entire world, and then all life will end.
  Is Mormont referring to SNOW?
• For half a moon, they rode through the Forest of Qohor, where the leaves made a golden canopy high above them, and the trunks of the trees were as wide as city gates. There were great elk in that wood,
  For two weeks they rode through a wood! Essos is really big! Funnily elk are considered “northern animals” here – but Essos is more the “warmer” type of landscape…
• This chapter includes big leaps in time. I always wonder how (in relation) we are in the story in Westeros as I have the feeling, that we totally lost the sync here (Robert mentioned her marriage brokered by Illyrio – but now weeks or months went by).
• Book vs. Series:
  I have the feeling the scene with Viserys is in the series – but I can not remember at all.

Ghilarovus, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons – Link

AGOT 22 – Arya II

“Ah, Arya. You have a wildness in you, child. ‘The wolf blood,’ my father used to call it. Lyanna had a touch of it, and my brother Brandon more than a touch. It brought them both to an early grave.” Arya heard sadness in his voice; he did not often speak of his father, or of the brother and sister who had died before she was born. “Lyanna might have carried a sword, if my lord father had allowed it. You remind me of her sometimes. You even look like her.”

AGOT 23 – ARYA II (GRRM)

POV character
Arya Stark 2

Chapter (AGOT)
23 / 73

Chapter (ASOIAF)
23 / 344

Summary

The girls learn that there will be a tourney in Eddards Stark honor and Sansa pleads her father to be allowed to attend. Grudgingly he gives his permission and includes also Arya. She on the other hand does not want to go as she avoids prince Joffrey whom she hates. Sansa and she start to fight and Ned leaves the hall soon.

Afterwards Arya is more or less ignored by anybody, but she prefers it that way. She would have eaten alone if the let her and she thinks back how she liked to eat with her brothers and that Ned always had a spare place at the high table for his staff. Every day another member of the household was invited as Ned believed that a lord should connect to his people and know their problems and stories. Arya feels very alone.

As she wants to leave Septa Mordane calls her out and tells her that she should eat all of her meal but Arya runs out and into her bedchamber where she locks the door. She takes Needle out and remembers Mycah, her friend who was killed by the hound. She thinks that is was her fault, when Septa Mordane hammers on the door, but Arya ignores her demands.

When her father knocks at the door she lets him in. Instantly he takes the sword and a good look at it. He asks if Mikken – his own smith – made it and she nods, but she does not betray Jon and tell her father that he gave if to her. Eddard does not push the matter but makes clear that a sword is not a toy and that the Septa’s duty is to make a lady out of the girls – an impossible task as he admits. He speaks abut his brother an sister and how Arya reminds him on Lyanna. Arya is in disbelieve because Lyanna was called a beauty – and she does not think to be beautiful.

Then Arya bursts into tears about Mycah’s fate and her father comforts her and tells her that it was not her fault. When she claims that Sansa and Joffrey lied Ned tells her that all people lie and even her as he knows that Nymeria did not leave her willingly. She confesses that Jory and her had to throw rocks and tell her that she should seek a new pack.

Ned tells her that a family – as a pack of wolves – has to support each other as dire times are coming up and the place is dangerous. She promises that she will try to begin growing up and is truly surprised when she gets her sword back. On the next day she even manages to apologize to the Septa.

Three days later she is summoned to the small hall and is introduced to a man called Syrio Forel from Myr or Braavos who tells her that he is her dancing master. He gives her a heavy training sword and tells her to take it in one hand. He notices that she uses the left hand and comments that that will benefit her, as her enemies may have problems fighting her. Then they start the training as Forel will teach her the water dance of Braavos (in comparison to the iron dance of westeros).

Thoughts

• Eddard is in fact a great leader of people, but clueless in politics. The thing with the extra-seat at the high table is a great way for a lord to connect to the staff (and stay in touch with real life). Also works in real life if you have to lead people (as a boss for example).
• “Let me tell you something about wolves, child. When the snows fall and the white winds blow, the lone wolf dies, but the pack survives. Summer is the time for squabbles. In winter, we must protect one another, keep each other warm, share our strengths. So if you must hate, Arya, hate those who would truly do us harm. Septa Mordane is a good woman, and Sansa . . . Sansa is your sister. You may be as different as the sun and the moon, but the same blood flows through both your hearts. You need her, as she needs you . . . and I need both of you, gods help me.”
  What a great speech of the not too outspoken Ned. And well done as Arya feels how serious he is and that he speaks to her not in a father-daughter way but takes her (nearly) as an equal.
• Nine years Syrio Forel was first sword to the Sealord of Braavos, he knows these things.
  What IS the first sword? Do we know that.
• It was the third time he had called her “boy.” “I’m a girl,” Arya objected.“Boy, girl,” Syrio Forel said. “You are a sword, that is all.”
  Forel is awesome. Point.
• Book vs. Series:
  Forel is described as bold with a “beak of a nose”. Torally different from the casting (curly hair and nice looking) in the series. I have no problem to see again “my” Forel as he looks totally different.

Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons – Link

AGOT 21 – Tyrion III

“I think he is a giant come among us, here at the end of the world.” Tyrion answered gently, “I’ve been called many things, my lord, but giant is seldom one of them.” “Nonetheless,” Maester Aemon said as his clouded, milk-white eyes moved to Tyrion’s face, “I think it is true.

AGOT 21 – TYRION III (GRRM)

POV character
Tyrion Lannister 3

Chapter (AGOT)
22 / 73

Chapter (ASOIAF)
22 / 344

Summary

Tyrion is planning his departure, although Lord Commander Mormont would have liked to take him the black, as cunning men are needed (as well as his family background). Tyrion mocks Alister Thorne who does not take it well and leaves the dinner. They talk about the fact that less and less knights take the black and Ser Allister was one of the last ones, but he was forced after the fall of Kinslanding. Mormont offers Tyrion an escort until Winterfell, and he agrees, although Mormont does not grant him the wish to send Jon as he should forget his family.

Lord Mormont laments over the dwindling force of the wall and how difficult the future will be as he is old and only few men are there to take over. Tyrion promises to talk to the king about the challenges the watch faces. Mormont tells Tyrion that he expects a winter coming up like no living man has experienced as the summer was already nine years long, and long summers indicate long winters. But Tyrion is in disbelieve as all of the things Mormont warns him are known out of fairy tales and long forgotten fables.

Outside Tyrion decides to go up the wall a last time and takes the elevator up. Up there he is astonished about the width of the wall and how windy and cold it is. He walks along the wall, inspects a dismantled catapult and is stopped by a guard.

It is Jon who has to keep watch. When asked Jon admits that he thinks Allister Thorne is behind the fact that he often is ordered for the night watch. Then Jon tells Tyrion proudly that some of the boys were significantly better fighters now. They walk together for a while, and Tyrion offers to deliver messages to Winterfell and Jon asks if Tyrion could help Bran somehow. Tyrion does not believe he can help, but Jon answers that even his words could help and calls him a friend.

Then they stay at the edge and look northwards and Tyrion shortly thinks that here in that moment he could believe all the stories abut wolves and white walkers and grumkins and snarks. Jon admits that he waits for his uncle and hopes to find him someday. Tyrion is not that optimistic.

Thoughts

• “You are a young man, Tyrion,” Mormont said. “How many winters have you seen?”He shrugged. “Eight, nine. I misremember.”
  Did we ever find out what that really means? Is Tyrion 18 or 27? I think the latter.
• This summer has lasted nine years, Tyrion, and a tenth will soon be upon us. Think on that.
  Perfect for a 5-year-gap *sigh*
• Tyrion is in fact very nice to Jon. The whole time. Tyrion is honest and that is why he is also a fan favorite. We are all suckers for the “good” guys.
• “Ghost and I will go find him.”
  True? Maybe.

Adrian Farwell, CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons – Link

AGOT 20 – Eddard IV

He remembered what Robert had told him in the crypts below Winterfell. I am surrounded by flatterers and fools, the king had insisted. Ned looked down the council table and wondered which were the flatterers and which the fools. He thought he knew already.

AGOT 20 – EDDARD IV (GRRM)

POV character
Eddard Stark 4

Chapter (AGOT)
21 / 73

Chapter (ASOIAF)
21 / 344

Summary

Eddard arrives at the Red Keep and is instantly summoned to attend a meeting of the small council. He changes his clothes and rushes there – tired and exhausted. Four council members are waiting for him: Vary, Littlefinger, Grandmaester Pycelle and Renly, the youngest of the Baratheon brothers. The last one resembles Robert in his heyday and Ned gets nostalgic. There is a little bantering between the court members, but Ned has not the patience for these “games”, he wants to do business. He greets the grandmaester and sits down, although he thinks he does not belong here. When Ned asks he is told, that Robert never attends the meetings as he is bored by matters of coins and crops and justice.

Then Renly presents a letter from Robert that includes his orders to stage a tournament in the hands name, with exorbitant high prices. Pycelle asks Littlefinger if the treasury will cover for that and Ned learns that the crown is in debts – 6 million gold pieces, the half of it by the Lannsisters, the other half from different sources: Lord Tyrell as well as the Braavosi bank and Tyroshi trade cartels. Even the church is lending money to Littlefinger. Ned can not believe it as the treasury was full of gold when Robert became king, nevertheless the others assure him, that Robert gave all of it away. When Ned states that he will talk to Robert not to stage the tourney, Renly predicts that it will not have an effect. Ned ends the meeting at that point.

When stepping in the court he remembers the misery of the journey and the fights Arya and Sansa fought. Suddenly Littlefinger appears and tells him to come with him as his wife waits. Eddard does not believe him, but follows the master of coin who leads him out of the castle to the city. When they stop at a brothel Ned takes it as an insult, but Ser Rodrick stops him from killing Littlefinger.

Inside really Catelyn is waiting for her husband and Ned first thinks Bran died. When Catelyn has told the whole story, Ned is shocked and does not understand Tyrion’s intentions. Littlefinger points to Tyrion’s family and puts even more distrust into Ned’s heart. although he makes clear that Robert surely was not part of it, as he is not interested in such things. He instructs them that it would be better to forget as the knife will not hold as proof and better throw it away but Eddard tells him that this insult can not be forgotten.

Littlefinger assures Eddard his help to find the murder of Lord Arryn and says that he may help to avoid Vary’s learning too much. Ned also thinks that the bigger problems stem from the Lannisters and tells Catelyn to return home as he fears more assassination attempts. When they ask Petyr Baelish for some privacy he leaves the room. Eddard orders Caetlyn instantly to muster the forces of House Tallhart and Glover to man the old castle at Moat Cailin and send word to Lord Manderly to strengthen the defenses of Whiteharbor. He – more or less – tells her to prepare for a war although he hopes to avoid it. His plan is to find proof about Arryn’s murderers (the Lannisters) and afterwards that Robert will listen to him (and help).

Thoughts

• Ned looked down the council table and wondered which were the flatterers and which the fools. He thought he knew already.
  The problem for Ned here: All of the attending councilmen are flatterers, but only one (Renly) could even remotely considered a fool. Littlefinger, Pycelle and Varys are much but not fools. Eddard is a fool thinking he knows them.
• “Though much better dressed,” Littlefinger quipped. “Lord Renly spends more on clothing than half the ladies of the court.”
  A very “subtle” hint to Renlys sexual orientation, although “being a well dressed man” is playing not very nicely with stereotypes.
• On one hand Littlefinger seems to try to calm Ned and Catelyn, on the other hand he (indirectly) pushes Ned nearer to the edge. Excellently done by him. I still do not know what his intentions are, but destabilization is surely one of his goals.
• “Leave Lord Varys to me, sweet lady. If you will permit me a small obscenity—and where better for it—I hold the man’s balls in the palm of my hand.”
  Does he really, I can not remember.

Alcázar of Segovia, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons – Link

AGOT 19 – Jon III

“Yes, life,” Noye said. “A long life or a short one, it’s up to you, Snow. The road you’re walking, one of your brothers will slit your throat for you one night.” – “They’re not my brothers,” Jon snapped. “They hate me because I’m better than they are.” – “No. They hate you because you act like you’re better than they are. They look at you and see a castle-bred bastard who thinks he’s a lordling.”

AGOT 19 – JON III (GRRM)

POV character
Jon Snow 3

Chapter (AGOT)
20 / 73

Chapter (ASOIAF)
20 / 344

Summary

Jon trains with the other new members of the watch and beats everyone at the swordfight. Still – Ser Allister Thorne, the master-at-arms, is not satisfied. Jon feels alone as all others are older than him – and his upbringing sets him apart. He is a little angry as nobody had told him the hard truth, except Tyrion Lannister. That Benjen also left him to lead a ranging is also making him angry. But most of all he misses his siblings, Arya and Robb even more than the others.

A group of other young recruits confronts Jon and provokes him by calling his mother a whore. A fight starts, but Donal Noye, the armorer, stops it immediately, sends all out, except Jon. Jon is stubborn and wants to leave, but Noyle tutors him that all are equal here at the wall and all of them are needed, even if they did not have his luck of being raised in a castle. Especially he tells him, that Jon is not better than any of them and may be killed by them soon if he keeps humiliating and bullying them.

When he walks out he looks at the wall and remembers how he had seen it the first time. Benjen called it the biggest structure ever built, and Tyrion the most useless one. The latter one he meets in the courtyard and Tyrion calls him “Lord Snow”. Jon does not want that name, but Tyrion tells him, that if he “owns” the name and takes it for himself, nobody can mock you about it (and as “the Imp” he knows what he is talking about). Tyrion starts to talk about the rumors that Benjen’s party is too long away but Jon denies as they are looking for Ser Waymar Royce and his party and that can take some time.

When they enter the dining hall, Jon is summoned to the Lord Commander because of news about Bran. Tyrion condoles him instantly. He runs to the quarters of Jeor Mormont who hands him a letter sent by Robb that Bran woke up – crippled but alive. Jon is immensely happy and instantly tells Tyrion. He even apologizes to Grenn – the one he humiliated and hurt at the training – and offers to give him some hints. Allister Thorne hears that and does not believe that Jon can help Grenn. Jon replies snarkily and makes Thorne very angry. The knight tells Jon that that was an grievous error and makes clear that he sees him as enemy.

Thoughts

• “We’ll speak when I return.”
  Oh my, something the Stark-brothers should stop saying.
• Donal Noye – I did not think of this one for 10(?) years and I don’t think he is part of the series. But he is a great side-character. Hard and kind and honorable (and important for Jon’s growth).
• The ancient stronghold of the black brothers was no Winterfell, no true castle at all. Lacking walls, it could not be defended, not from the south, or east, or west;
  I know now there will be fighting in and around castle black (what an uninspired name – as good as GRRM is with characters and nicknames, as lacking he is at locations: Castle Black, Red Keep, Riverrun)- but I also knew that would be important when I read it the first time. Some of GRRMs foreshadowing was not as concealed as others.
• Books vs. series: Once Castle Black had housed five thousand fighting men with all their horses and servants and weapons. Now it was home to a tenth that number, and parts of it were falling into ruin.
  However you take it, the visuals in the series were great, but the size of the castles and all the stuff (except the wall) never was delivered correctly. AsoIaF should be fantasy in its grandest scale – and that never was done (ok – it TV and not movie, but still).

Eric Kilby from Somerville, MA, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons – Link

AGOT 18 – Catelyn IV

The look brought back vivid memories for Catelyn. He had been a sly child, but after his mischiefs he always looked contrite; it was a gift he had. The years had not changed him much. Petyr had been a small boy, and he had grown into a small man, an inch or two shorter than Catelyn, slender and quick, with the sharp features she remembered and the same laughing grey-green eyes. He had a little pointed chin beard now, and threads of silver in his dark hair, though he was still shy of thirty.

AGOT 18 – CATELYN IV (GRRM)

POV character
Catelyn Stark 4

Chapter (AGOT)
19 / 73

Chapter (ASOIAF)
19 / 344

Summary

Catelyn and Rodrick Cassel arrive at Kingslanding on the tyroshi trading galley Storm Dancer. They seek the king’s master of arms – whom Cassel knows – and hope that he can point out the owner of the knife. But they do not want to meet a man called Littlefinger – Lord Baelish now. Because he would know Catelyn instantly as he was her fathers ward when she was young.

They decide to stay undercover at an Inn, Cassel tries to seek Santagar, the master of arms and bring him to Catelyn. As Rodrick Cassel is gone, Catelyn sleeps in her room, when the city guard comes and demands her to be brought to the castle, on Lord Baelish’ order. He meets her and tells her that Varys, the king’s spymaster or “spider” as Catelyn calls him, found out about her arrival. Catelyn suspects, that the tyroshi captain of the ship earned himself a little more gold in the process.

Varys joins them, and Catelyn clearly shows that she does not trust him. Varys shows deep sympathy and compassion to Bran’s fate and even offers to send for healers from the east, but Catelyn does not want to hear any of it. Catelyn really is surprised when Varys asks for the dagger an fears for Rodrick Cassel. Varys assures her that the knight is alright. When Catelyn shows them the dagger Littlefinger tells her that the knife once was his, until Tyrion won it at a bet.

Thoughts

• Kingslanding is described on its three hills and all – I always image in it a little bit like ancient Rome, although not medieval. But the size and flair of the city is somehow very Rome-like.
• “Lord Varys knows everything . . . except why you are here.” He lifted an eyebrow. “Why are you here?”
  Something Varys really hates – but very easy explained: Catelyn was VERY fast and no birds flew to Kingslanding from Winterfell. But we see that Baelish’ information is old – Varys comes in and knows that a dagger is the cause, so the spider does his work.
• She is very snobby here as she always thinks how lowborn Baelish AND Varys are. But that is Catelyn Stark…
• Only Pycelle, Varys and Littlefinger are in the capital and run the country – a little scary in hindsight.
• I think Varys really cares for Bran’s fate – as he has a soft spot for kids (as far as I remember).
• Oh what a great lie (and an awesome way to show how unreliable Littlefinger is). If I remember correctly: Tyrion will tell Catelyn later, that he would never ever bet AGAINST his brother (and we know that is true, as Jaime is the only one of his close family he loves). Or do I misremember here? The fate and story of this dagger is what makes the “murder-mystery” part of AGOT-ASOS really great.
• Book vs. series: Baelish is hard. The actor was so well cast (and I think he even was one the fans really wanted in the first place). Ok, Aidan Gillen is too good looking, but that will always be the problem of Hollywood-like-productions. I definitively have a problem keeping “series Littlefinger” out of my imagination.

Myriam Thyes, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons – Link

AGOT 17 – Bran III

There were shadows all around them. One shadow was dark as ash, with the terrible face of a hound. Another was armored like the sun, golden and beautiful. Over them both loomed a giant in armor made of stone, but when he opened his visor, there was nothing inside but darkness and thick black blood.

AGOT 17 – BRAN III (GRRM)

POV character
Brandon Stark 3

Chapter (AGOT)
18 / 73

Chapter (ASOIAF)
18 / 344

Summary

Bran is still in coma and dreaming. He is falling an endless fall and a crow, with three eyes, tells him to fly and not cry,because if he hits the ground he will die. Bran is still falling and the speed increases.

He looks down and is closer to the floor as ever. But he also can see anybody in the realm. He focuses on Winterfell and can see his brothers and Maester Luwin and the great white weirwod in the godswood, that also looks at him.

He looks and sees his mother and sisters and his father at different locations. He also sees threats and even looks to Essos and Ashai, sees his brother Jon seemingly dying and looks much farther north and even into the heart of winter. This shocks him so much, that he cries. The crow says that he now knows why he has to survive – Because Winter is coming.

When Bran sees that he will be crushed if he does not fly, he opens his arms and flies. The feeling is great, but the crow pecks at his forehead. In this instance he wakes up, terrifying a serving girl who runs out screaming.

Bran’s forehead, where the crow pecked, still hurts. When he tries to stand up, nothing happens. Then his wolf leaps on his legs, that have no feeling. But Bran only sees the sunlight-yellow eyes and wonders why his pup is so big. In the moment Robb enters the room breathless Bran states that the wolf’s name should be Summer.

Thoughts

• He could see the whole realm, and everyone in it.
  He seems to have some clairvoyance already in this sequence.
• I have the feeling this chapter would have been the blueprint for the “5 year gap” that GRRM had intended after ASOS. Because in short paragraphs Bran sees different situations, but the reader learns (for example) that Catelyn already reached Whiteharbour and boarded a ship and what others are doing. It could have worked, what a pity that GRRm lost himself in his story-lines and produced the monster of a book that AFFC/ADWD is combined.I would have loved to have ASoIaF with “Only” the POVs of book 1 (maybe also book 2).
• Look at the quote I chose – is this giant of stone with no face “Robert Strong”? I am surely (again) very late to find that tidbit…
• […], to the fabled lands of the Jade Sea, to Asshai by the Shadow, where dragons stirred beneath the sunrise
  Does this mean he already sees dragons or he expects them to hatch?
• Finally he looked north. He saw the Wall shining like blue crystal, and his bastard brother Jon sleeping alone in a cold bed, his skin growing pale and hard as the memory of all warmth fled from him.
  He sees the finale of ADWD! I have the feeling this chapters hides quite a bit of the things we might have to expect (although lots of the stuff already can be pointed out).
• He saw the bones of a thousand other dreamers impaled upon their points.
  The crow seems to have visited comatose people (or dreamers) and looks if their third eye can be opened. Lots of them died (and never woke up).
• One funny thing I am wondering at the moment: Crows and ravens are very different birds. And Bran always sees the three eyed crow, and we learn that this entity in fact also is Bloodraven. Why didn’t GRRM take a raven from the beginning – in the series it IS a raven and not a crow. You could argue that Bloodraven was in fact also a crow as the members of the nightswatch are also called like that. But still – the confusion crow vs. raven is something that could have been avoided.

http://www.cgpgrey.com, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons – Link

AGOT 16 – Eddard III

When it was over, he said, “Choose four men and have them take the body north. Bury her at Winterfell.” – “All that way?” Jory said, astonished. – “All that way,” Ned affirmed. “The Lannister woman shall never have this skin.”

AGOT 16 – EDDARD III (GRRM)

POV character
Eddard Stark 3

Chapter (AGOT)
17 / 73

Chapter (ASOIAF)
17 / 344

Summary

Arya was found after 4 days and Eddards biggest fear is, that she was found by the Lannisters but his steward tells him that it was in fact Jory, the Stark’s captain of guards. Sadly the guards brought her directly to the king and Eddard rushes to save her. He finds the king in a crowded room and thinks that this may not be good as he would have preferred to settle the affair in private.

Arya is crying and Ned demands to know why she was not brought to him. Cersei snaps back, but Robert apologizes and says he did not intend to scare the girl and only wanted to be done with the business quickly. The queen confronts Arya that Mycah and her beat Joffrey with clubs and Nymeria, the wolf, bite in his arm. Arya denies that and says Nymeria only protected her, but Joffrey repeats the false story.

The king orders both of them tell their story and reminds them that lying to a king is a crime. Arya has to start. Renly starts to laugh, when Arya admits that she thrown “Lion’s Tooth” into the Trident and is escorted outside by Barristan. After Joffrey told his (very different) story, Sansa is called as witness. She says that she can not remember, much to Arya’s anger.

Robert wants to close the case and tells Ned to disciple his daughter as he will see to his son, but queen Cersei insists on a punishment, at least for the wolf. To Robert’s not very well hidden delight, Nymeria was not found with Arya. Cersei promises a big bounty if somebody brings her the skin. And in addition she reminds Robert, that there is still a wolf in the camp. Robert orders to kill him, although Ned, Arya and Sansa argue against it.

Robert orders the king’s justice Payne to do it, although Ned demands that he does it himself. It seems that Ned and Robert’s relationship is severely damaged in this moment. Eddard decides that he will execute the king’s order himself, a move that even deepens Cersei’s mistrust.

After Lady is dead he orders his men to send the corpse back to Winterfell and bury her properly in the north. In this way Cersei Lannister will not get the skin (as she demanded). At his way back he meets Sandor Clegane who found Mycah, rode him down and killed him without mercy.

Thoughts

• Eddard chapters are always on the shorter side of this, strange. Is it because Eddard is such a “dry” man that GRRM does not write any unnecessary descriptions?
• As we know the whole scene out of Sansa’s description we know that Joffrey is lying. This helps the reader to (at least) put Sansa in the “more reliable” narrator corner (at least for the moment).
• What had happened if Sansa told the truth? A very nice what if. I assume Cersei would have brought Robert to break up with Ned, who would have gone back to the north.
• Get her a dog, she’ll be happier for it.
  I think this is the quote for all Sansa/Sandor shippers. I think you read to much into a throwaway line.
• “She is of the north. She deserves better than a butcher.”
  A badass-line here by Ned. For all of Stark-fans and northern loyalists out there. And that he denies Cersei the skin by giving Lady a honor guard is awesome as well.

Cephas, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons – Link

AGOT 15 – Sansa I

It was a glorious day, a magical day. The air was warm and heavy with the scent of flowers, and the woods here had a gentle beauty that Sansa had never seen in the north. Prince Joffrey’s mount was a blood bay courser, swift as the wind, and he rode it with reckless abandon, so fast that Sansa was hard-pressed to keep up on her mare. It was a day for adventures.

AGOT 15 – SANSA I (GRRM)

POV character
Sansa Stark 1

Chapter (AGOT)
16 / 73

Chapter (ASOIAF)
16 / 344

Summary

The Stark sisters are invited to ride with the queen and the princess. Sansa is looking forward to that, because her betrothed, Prince Joffrey, might also be there. She is looking for Arya and tells her to dress up. Arya refuses and says that she will ride up the river to look for rubies that were once on Rhaegars armour, when Robert killed him.

Sansa contemplates how different she and her sister are – the whole journey down the swamp-covered “Neck”, Arya had adventures while Sansa hated it. Sansa tries to convince Arya, but her sister does not want to come and leaves Sansa. When returning she witnesses a scene with three men, that arrived. The council sent a honor guard consisting of Ser Barristan Selmy (Lord commander of the kingsguard), Lord Renly Baratheon (the king’s brother) and Ser Ilyn Paine (the king’s justice). She is so afraid of the last one that she bumps into Sandor Clegane. In the end prince Joffrey calms her.

The queen postpones the day with Sansa and her daughter and asks Joffrey to entertain her. Sansa is overjoyed as she thinks a day with the prince is even better. She still is full of fantasies about gallant princess and their mighty deeds. In the end the prince proposes to take a ride – alone, without his “Dog” (the Hound) and her wolf.

They follow the river, explore caves and track a shadowcat. They dine and afterwards Joffrey heads to the old battlegound. There they find a girl and an older boy sparring with wooden swords – Arya and the butcher’s son Mycah. Joffrey is angry that the boy fought with a “sword” and fought with noble lady. Joffrey threatens Mycah and Arya hits him with her wooden stick so hard, that it breaks.

Mycah manages to flee, but Joffrey now starts to fight Arya, while Sansa is shouting to stop it. When Joffrey cornes Arya, the wolf Nymeria interferes and bites the prince into the sword arm. Arya tells him to stop and afterwards hurls Joffrey’s sword “Lion’s Tooth” into the river. When Arya and Nymeria are gone, Sansa wants to take care of Joffrey, but he denies it, showing pure hate in his eyes.

Thoughts

• The whole existence of the Inn at the crossroads and its significance always gave me the feeling how vast the country is, it is THE Inn (not the only one, but the most important one) – everybody knows it, it is one of the main stops if you travel and around is is nothing.
• She had bruises on her arms and shoulders too, dark purple welts and faded green-and-yellow splotches, Sansa had seen them when her sister undressed for sleep.
  Nicely hidden reference to Aryas training with Needle.
• Arya is described as having the “Stark-face” – the only one except Jon (do we know how Rickon looks?). Whatever. Eddard has somehow a soft spot for his little tomboy – it is said because she reminds him of his sister. BUT, what if it is also because she is the only of his (real) children that has the Stark features.
• Barristan and Renly show a good camaraderie here – mocking each other. This is really nice. Still, I am wondering (as always) why Barristan was not on his King’s side until now.
• Book vs. series:
  • This (I think) is exactly the scene why my Joffrey always resembles Draco Malfoy/Tom Felton. It is so similar to how Draco is injured by Buckbeak and everything afterwards and how the hippogriff should have been executed.

Frederick Bligh Bond, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons – Link