A Song of Ice and Fire

[bushido_man96]

One thing that I forgot to mention that seems to be an ongoing theme in these early chapters is the direwolves' penchant for protecting the Starks. Summer, Bran's wolf, killed the assassin. Nymeria attacks Jofferey, and even Lady is protective of Sansa when she is startled by Sandor Clegane and Ser Ilyn Payne. Ghost attacks Tyrion as well in protection of Jon.

[bushido_man96]

A Game of Thrones; Eddard

Ned has spent the last 4 days searching for Arya after the last hubbub that went on with Jofferey and Mycah. There were many search parties out looking for Arya, and no one had found her yet. Finally, Jory found her, and she was taken before the King and Queen before being brought to Ned.

Basically what happens is a small questioning of what had happened during the incident. Arya told her story, and then Jofferey told his. Arya the truth, Joff lied his butt off. The sealer of the deal was to be Sansa, who was brought in by Jory to tell what she told Ned the day it happened. Well, Sansa was weak, and didn't give anything up, for fear of losing Jofferey...so she sold out her own sister. Arya attacked her, but was peeled off. Robert was going to let Ned off with punishing Arya, and he would punish Joff, and that would be it. However, Cersie had to speak up, and wanted the wolf killed. Nymeria could not be found, but Cersie decided that Lady would be a suitable substitute. Sansa cries a lot, and in the end, I think she ends up blaming Arya for the whole ordeal, as opposed to Joff. In the end, Ned ends up beheading Lady, because Robert won't do it himself. The chapter ends with the Hound's return with a body; it was Mycah, who he ran down.

Notes: We see the rift between Cersei and Robert in this chapter, and how Cersie likes to manipulate people. Sansa is also shown as not very trustworthy. The camp was made at the castle of Raymun Darry, who was an ally of Rhaegar during the war. There was a lot of tension between the Lannisters, the Darrys, the Starks, and the Baratheons while there.

[bushido_man96]

A Game of Thrones; Bran

Bran is having a dream about falling. There is a crow circling about him, trying to teach him how to fly. The crow talks to him, trying to comfort and encourage him. As he is falling, he sees the realm, and some things imporant in it: He sees Winterfell; Hodor, Mikken, and Maester Luwin, who is looking up to the sky and taking notes. He sees Robb, taller and broader, carrying live steel. He sees his mother and Rodrick on a boat, heading for a "storm" that they cannot see; his mother has the knife laid on the table. Near the Trident, he sees Ned, Arya, and Sansa. Ned in grief, Sansa crying, and Arya bottling up her anger. Shadows are all around them; one with the face of a hound (Sador Clegane), another armored like the sun (Jaime, perhaps?), and over them a giant (not sure who, perhaps the Mountain?). He sees over the narrow seas, the Dothraki, and Asshai, where he sees dragons (foreshadowing ). He also looks to the North, and the Wall, and sees Jon, in a bed cold and alone, all warmth fleeing from him (I really hope that isn't foreshadowing ), and then he looks farther to the North, where the light meets the world, deep into the heart of winter, and screams. Shortly after, he hears his father's voice, telling him one can only be brave when one is afraid. He notices that the crow has 3 eyes, the middle filled with "terrible" knowledge. Bran flies, avoiding death. The crow tells him he must live, because "winter is coming." Once flying, the crow attempts to peck a hole into the middle of his forehead (a 3rd eye, perhaps?), and shorty afterwards, Bran wakes up. When Robb bursts into the room, Bran mentions the name of his wolf: Summer. Bran notices that he can't feel Summer on his legs, too.

[bushido_man96]

I have some updates, here, A_train. I will be back on it shortly, too.

[bushido_man96]

A Game of Thrones; Catelyn

Cat and Sir Roderik are nearing King's Landing, and get their in this chapter. In this chapter, we learn about, and meet, Lord Petyr Baelish, better known as "Littlefinger." He got the nickname from a combination of being small of stature and skinny, and because his family had the smallest estate on the Fingers. Cat's brother, Lord Edmure, gave him the nickname. Littlefinger was a ward of Cat's father, and the two grew up together. Littlefinger was like a brother to Cat, but Littlefinger loved Cat more intensely. At one point, Petyr challenged Brandon Stark for Cat's hand, and was badly embarrased.

When Cat and Cassel check into a place to stay, Rodrik leaves to speak with the king's armorer, Ser Aron Santagar, to ID the dagger. However, Petyr hears of her arrival though Varys, the master of whisperers, and has Cat brought to him, via City Watch escort. We meet Petyr, and Lord Varys, who is a eunich. He knows about the dagger, and they find out that it was Petyrs, lost in a bet, to Tyrion Lannister.

[A_Train]

Hey bushido man,

Sorry I haven't participated here in a while, things had been hectic (namely work, and my pregnant wife falling and breaking her foot!)

I do enjoy discussing the chapters with you.

Petyr is an interesting character to say the least. At different points in the novels I am no sure whether I am routing for or against him. Usually when facing the Starks his smugness is annoying, but not so much when he is agaisnt Lannisters or people in the Vale.

In the other chapters, I was disappointed in both Robert and Ned for killing the direwolf. And Hounds reaction to killing Micah serves as a reminder if you find yourself softening up to him later in the books, even though I quite enjoy his character.

Brans chapter has a lot of forshadowing, and I am interest to read his chapters in the next book, for now though, he remains a rather boring character to me.

[bushido_man96]

A bit off topic, I saw that Martin has put out 2 new books; Dreamsongs, v. 1 and 2. Know anything about them?

[A_Train]

I honestly know nothing about those particular books. They appear to be a series of essays rather than short stories.

If you are a looking to pick up other works by this author get The Hedge Knight, which can be found in Legends and a sequel in Legends II.

[bushido_man96]

I honestly know nothing about those particular books. They appear to be a series of essays rather than short stories.

If you are a looking to pick up other works by this author get The Hedge Knight, which can be found in Legends and a sequel in Legends II.

I am not familiar with these. Can you explain more?

Oh, something I missed on the last chapter...the Red Keep was mentioned to have many secrets, and that no one knows all of the secrets, except Maegor, I think. And he had all of the builders executed upon completion. Maegor, the Mad, I think...

We learn this with Varys a bit later.

[bushido_man96]

I picked up a copy each of Dreamsongs; both volumes. Looking through V. 2, I spied that The Hedge Knight is included in it! Hoorah!

How do I include it in my blog now?