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.
My Song of Ice and Fire 
