“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.
My Song of Ice and Fire 
