A Song of Ice and Fire

[bushido_man96]

A Game of Thrones; Jon

This is a long chapter...

This chapter begins in the yard at the Wall, with Jon facing off with some other boys at sword practice. He works them all over good, but the Mater at Arms, Ser Alliser Thorne, berates him anyways. The boys aren’t part of the Watch officially yet, and are in training to see what they will qualify to be.

We meet some characters who become close to Jon eventually. We meet Grenn, the Aurochs, who is 16, big and strong. We meet Todder, who is called Toad. After the fights in the yard, in which Grenn is injured, the four boys decide to gang up on Jon, who defends himself well, before the fight is stopped by Donal Noye, a one-armed blacksmith who came to Wall at the age of 30, because he lost his arm to an axe wound. He was rumored to be the smith who forged Robert’s great warhammer, and was the smith of Robert’s brother, Stannis. Noye was a veteran of countless battles. He dismisses the other boys, and has a heart-to-heart with Jon, setting things straight, and clearing up the reality of life on the Wall and in the Watch. Benjen even had to give him some tough love by telling him that being family or the son of Eddard Stark would get him no favors. The truth, he figures out, came from Tyrion’s talk with him on the way up.

Notes: Ser Alliser began calling Jon “Lord Snow,” and it has stuck with the others. Jon hates it. Jon also alludes to the cold, and how he doesn’t like it. Mance Rayder and his wildlings is mentioned as well. Also, the Wall is said to be nearly 700 feet tall, wide enough to walk over 12 knights abreast, and is older than the Seven Kingdoms. Jon is stationed at Castle Black. The places of the Wall are actually falling to ruin. Castle Black once housed over 5000 men and horses. Now, a tenth that.

Tyrion, always well informed, makes mention that Benjen is late in returning, and Jon had a vision of Benjen dead in the snow when he left and berated Jon again. He was a fortnight missing. At supper, Alliser brings news to Jon that the Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch, Ser Jeor Mormont, wants to speak with him. The letter reads that Bran lives. Jon is elated, and in the dining hall, even picks up Tyrion and swings him around. Everyone looks, and Jon approaches Grenn in his glee, to say he would help him with his swordsmanship. Thorne laughs, and Jon ends up insulting him in front of all to see. The hall laughs at Thorne, and Jon makes an enemy, but also a few friends.

[bushido_man96]

A Game of Thrones; Eddard

Ned arrives at the Red Keep, and is told to convene with the Small Council immediately. The members of the Small Council are Varys the eunich, The Master of Whispers; Renly Baratheon, the youngest brother of Robert (not to mention looking like a young Robert); Petyr Baelish (Littlefinger), The Master of Coin; and Grand Maester Pycelle, and of course, Eddard, the Hand of the King. Petyr and Eddard have a little bit of a verbal duel, and they don’t like each other. Renly laughs aloud at Stark’s innuendoes. The Council also consists of Stannis, Robert’s older brother, and Ser Barristan (The Bold) Selmy, the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard. The latter two are missing, along with the King.

The matter to discuss is the King’s wish to hold a tournament in celebration of Ned’s arrival as the new Hand of the King, with the purse totaling 90,000 gold pieces. Ned learns from Littlefinger that the Realm is over 6 million dragons in debt, spread mostly to the Lannisters (coincidence, I think not!), some to Braavos, Lord Tyrell, and some Tyroshis. Ned is appalled by this, and wishes not to proceed with the tourney.

After the meeting, Ned heads to his chambers, brooding over the last 2 weeks of the journey. Sansa blamed Arya for Lady’s death, and Arya brooded over her friend’s death. Ned was still angry with Robert, who spent the days drunk in the wheelhouse. Littlefinger arrives to lead Ned to Cat, who Ned is astonished to find is in King’s Landing. He leads him to a brothel he owns where Cat is being hidden. She tells Ned why she is injured, about Bran, and the dagger they believed to be Tyrion’s work towards Bran. Cat told all about Lord Arryn’s death to Baelish, and they are convinced that Varys knows, too. The chapter ends with Ned sending Cat back to Winterfell, and with word to his bannermen Helman Tallhart and Galbart Glover to raise bowman around Moat Cailin, to hold the Neck in case of war with the Lannisters, should they prove Arryn’s death. He also fears what Robert may have become. Cat is reignited by Littlefinger’s assistance, and I think she is being snowed by him. Ned is not as convinced.

A side note/foreshadow: Ned remembers what Jon said about there being a wolf pup for each of the children, and that perhaps the gods sent them to protect the children; after Bran’s wolf saved his life, he fears what he may have done in killing Sansa’s.

[A_Train]

Awesome that you have the Hedge Knight

I would save it for after you have finished re reading the series, but it is a really fun read, though much simpler than the main series.

Maegar the Cruel built the red keep. He is an intriguing character that I was I knew more about. Hopefully somewhere down the line.

So the wall is 12 knights wide? Thats funny, I always picture it as just wide enough to have two knights walk side by side, with some extra room on both sides.

Donal Noye is a prefered character of mine. I like the way he handles himself.

[bushido_man96]

I like Noye, too. But, like every character that I get attached to, Martin just......

[bushido_man96]

I have been reading; I just haven't been next to the computer to post right away. Here we go...

A Game of Thrones; Tyrion

Tyrion is dining with Mormont, Thorne, and Bowen Marsh, who is the Lord Steward of the Night's Watch. Tyrion is to be leaving soon. During the meal, he gets into a verbal duel with Ser Alliser Thorne, which he easily wins; Thorne leaves, disgusted. There is also another knight at the table; Ser Jaremy Rykker. Rykker and Throne fought at King's Landing, but on the wrong side, against Robert. Tywin Lannister (Tyrion's father) gave them the choice of being beheaded or take the Black. This explains Thorne's dislike for Tyrion. Maeter Aemon, 100 years old and blind, commments that he feels Tyrion is a giant come among them. Tryion is at a loss for words at the comment, and tells Aemon he is too kind. Aemon claims that he is not (??).

After all have left the room, Tyrion and Mormont remain. Mormont asks Tyrion to plead for the case of the Night's Watch to his brother, sister, father, and king. The numbers are under 1000, and only 1/3 of that are fighting men, to defend 100 leagues of Wall. He mentions Ser Yohn Royce's missing enterouge (see Prologue), and that Benjen Stark and the group that went searching for Royce has gone missing as well. He fears a battle may ensue. He also mentions Gared's betrayal of his vows (see Eddard's first chapter, I think). Mormont will be 70 in a few years, but trusts no one around him to turn command over to. Aemon and Mormont are convinced that the summer, going on its 10th year, is ending, and that "Winter is Coming" (the Stark words). There are reports of "white walkers" near East Watch, and mountain people seem to be fleeing. Tyrion doesn't seem to buy it all, but promises to speak for him, although his words will fall on deaf ears.

Tyrion leaves Mormont, and takes a last trip up to the top of the Wall. He finds Jon there, and they talk. Jon has been helping the other boys with swordplay, and he thanks Tyrion for his words. Jon tells Tyrion to tell Robb he will be Lord Commander of the Night's Watch one day, to protect them. Whether he was jesting or not was hard to say (foreshadowing??? ). He also asks Tyrion to speak to Bran and Rickon, and they shake hands as friends.

Note: Just one...in this chapter, the Old Bear (Mormont) mentions his son's dishonor (Ser Jeor Mormont, who is with Dany). Incidentally, Mormont is called the "Old Bear" because it is the sigil of his house, and he is from Bear Island.

[bushido_man96]

A Game of Thrones; Arya

They are dining with the Hand's Guard, and Ned arrives late and tired. Talk of the tourney arises, and Sansa gets excited (who expected this, raise your hand ). Arya is not interested. The two are still fighting, and Ned berates them both for it. Arya misses the rest of her family. She doesn't like any of the men right now, for she feels that they let Lady and Mycah be killed. She was even upset with her father. She gets upset, and runs to her room and cries, feeling it was all her fault that Mycah was killed. She digs out Needle, for comfort.

Ned comes to speak to her, and sees her sword. He says that Arya has a wildness in her, the "wolf blood," and says his sister Lyanna had a touch of it, and that his brother Brandon had much of it; also that it led them both to early deaths. Ned tells Arya that she reminds him of Lyanna, and that she may have carried a sword if his father had let her.

Ned tells Arya that Mycah's death is not her fault. Arya admitted to running off Nymeria when Ned prodded. She had lied when saying Nymeria had run off on her own; Arya had to throw rocks at her. Ned said that everyone lies, and her lie was not without honor (it is as if he alludes to his own similar act at one time here). Ned has a heart-to-heart with her, about the family history (the sigil and the words). The lone wolf dies off; the pack survives, and that "Winter is Coming" (I love doing that ). The have enemies in King's Landing, and they must keep the pack (family) together, and not bicker amongst themselves.

Ned allowed Arya to keep her sword, and 3 days later, she meets Syrio Forel, who was First Sword to the Sealord of Braavos for 9 years. He begins teaching the "sword dance."

[bushido_man96]

A Game of Thrones; Daenerys

The khalasar has reached the Dothraki Sea, a vast plain the Dothraki could ride endlessly. The endless riding had nearly worn Dany down with pain, and she felt that she could no longer go on. Then, she dreamed the dragon dream again, but without her brother in it this time (foreshadowing, again? ). In it, the dragon engulfed her in flames (foreshadowing again...), but she didn't seem to feel it; she awoke in less pain, as if healed. In the dream, the dragon was black, like one her eggs. She also noticed that the egg felt warm to the touch, but she dismissed the feeling due to the warmth of the weather. She begins to become accostumed to the life of the khalasar, and begins to enjoy it; she becomes it.

She commanded Jorah to halt the khalasar, so she could ride ahead alone. Viserys didn't like this, and caught up to her. He gave her the "how dare you command me" routine, and attacked her, but she pushed him away, which she had never done before. She expected Viserys to hurt her in retalliation, and he was getting ready to, but one of the khas (guard), Jhogo, restrained Viserys by wrapping a whip around his neck, Indiana Jones style. Her khas would have punished him physically, but she refrained them from doing so. She saw how pitiful he was, and feared him no more. Dany then decided to punish him, in the worst way; she orders Ser Jorah to take his horse, which degrades him to the lowest level of Dothraki society. Viserys essentially sits and poubts and fumes as the enitre khalasar walks past him, mocking him.

Dany and her maidservants end up discussing myths of the dragons. Dany had also heard that the Eastern lands still claimed magic, and that the Western lands lost it when the winter ended and the long summer came. Is it coincidence that Dany's dragon eggs grow warm as they approach the lands of Westeros, and the approaching winter??

Notes: Dany is beginning to act more like a queen, a khaleesi. The chapter ends with the news that Dany is with child.

[bushido_man96]

A Game of Thrones; Bran

Bran sits in his window seat, watching Rickon play with the wolves. He describes each of the direwolves. Shaggydog (Rickon’s) is all black, with eyes of green fire. Summer (Bran’s) was “sliver and smoke, with eyes of yellow gold that saw all there was to see.” Bran feels that Summer is the smartest of the litter, and the most wary. Summer is also the smallest, Bran thinks.

Nan is tending to Bran, and he is irritated with her. She would tell him stories, but he hates them all now. He only likes the scary ones, so Nan begins a scary one; about a long winter that came thousands of years ago, and the “white walkers” (the others) came for the first time, and how they led undead armies against the living. They hated iron and the sun. She also talked of the deaths of high and low alike due to the winter, which she also called the long night, as if the sun disappeared. The “last hero” went searching for the children of the forest, to help defeat the Others with their magic, but Nan got cut off before she could finish.

Nan’s story was interrupted by Maester Luwin, who takes Bran to see a visitor. As Hodor carries Bran into the throne room, he sees Tyrion standing in front of Robb, and he is not being welcomed. Robb is still suspicious of Tyrion, and does not trust him. Tyrion has a gift for Bran, which is a blueprint of a saddle and riding tack to make so Bran can ride a horse. When Robb questions him as to why, Tryion states that he did it because Jon asked it of him. After a time, in which Tyrion is almost attacked by all three direwolves, he departs.

Yoren and the other Black Brothers sup with the Starks that night, and he gives news of Benjen’s disappearance. Robb refuses to believe it, showing a bit of childishness in the process. Later, Robb promises to have Bran ride out to meet their mother when she returns, and they will one day soon ride to the Wall to visit Jon (foreshadow…).

Notes: We learn the Old Nan is older than dirt it seems, and the 7 foot tall Hodor, who’s real name is Walder, is her great-grandson, and her only surviving heir. She may be as old as Maester Aemon. Bran also notes a difference in Robb, when he is being “Robb the Lord,” and when he is himself.

Bran has another dream, this time climbing a tower, with his legs limp. At the top are two gargoyles, who climb down to meet him. He tells them that “he didn’t hear” what they said, and then is awakened by Hodor.

[bushido_man96]

A Game of Thrones; Eddard

Eddard has began enquiring about the death of Jon Arryn, and is interviewing Grand Maester Pycelle. Pycelle thinks that Arryn’s death came in part to being worn down by his burdens as a father and as Hand of the King. One day, he requested a certain book (important note here) and seemed healthy, and the next day, he was ill. Pycelle sent a Maeter Coleman away, who I think was the Maester of the Arryn house. Pycelle felt that he would kill Arryn with the purging potions he was giving him. They talk on, and the last words Arryn said to Robert and his wife were “the seed is strong.” Pycelle thinks Arryn’s death was an illness, but Ned offers a different theory; poison (this gets Pycelle’s attention). Ned also hints that poison is a “woman’s weapon,” but Pycelle also mentions that it is a weapon of eunichs (Varys). In parting, he asks to see the book Jon was reading before becoming ill; it was a book on the lineages of the great lines of the lands.

Back at the Red Keep, Ned is visited by Littlefinger. He has found 4 people who were of Jon Arryn’s entourage that had remained in King’s Landing; one was his squire, recently knighted. Petyr also points out to Ned some individuals posted outside his Keep; one that reports to Varys, and another that reports to the Queen. Ned is convinced that he should send one of his men to fetch these people to talk with, as opposed to going himself. He thanks Petyr (reluctantly) and says he may have been hasty in not trusting him. Littlefinger says that not trusting him was the smartest thing that he could have done.

Notes: Is it possible that Varys the Eunich is actually one of the Eunich warriors that we meet later on? We also see how Eddard’s honor and trust can begin to get him into trouble in King’s Landing.

[bushido_man96]

A Game of Thrones; Jon

A new face walks into the armory (Samwell Tarly, we learn soon). When he speaks, Pyp identifies him as Southron from the Highgarden area, and as a lordling. Pyp traveled with a mummer’s troupe, and claimed he picked up this skill of indentification. The new boy is very huge, guessed at 20 stones, and is fat. Thorne names him the Lord of Ham and Ser Piggy, and insults him from the get-go. Thorne puts him in the list, and he is beaten handily, showing he has no skill at fighting. Thorne forces the other boy to keep beating on Sam until he rises, and Jon steps in. Now Thorne decides to send 3 boys to fight Jon and his new buddy, but two of Jon’s new friends, Pyp and Grenn, step in to help him. Sam then thanks them, and introduced himself. He is the son of Randyll Tarly of Horn Hill, bannerman to the Tyrells of Highgarden. He was the heir, but for some reason has taken the Black. He admits to the others that he is a coward, and this concerns them.

That night after supper, Jon and Sam talk outside. Jon asks if Sam is afraid of everything, and why a craven would come to the Wall. Sam just sits down and cries, and is interrupted by Ghost. He begins laughing, and the two begin talking again. Jon talks of a dream of Winterfell, and how he is searching through the place looking for people, but finds no one (foreshadow?) or anything. It is empty, and he finds that he must go down to the crypts, and always awakes before getting there.

Sam then tells the story of why he is at the Wall. He was the only son, until his mother had another, when Sam was around 12, I guess. Lord Randyll did not see Sam as fit to inherit the great sword of Valyrian stell called Heartsbane, which had been handed down from father to son of Horn Hill for 500 years. So, when his little brother Dickon was born, Tarly turned all of his attention to him. Where Sam liked dancing and music but hated hunting and fighting, Dickon was more robust and had the qualities of a future lord. Therefore, one day, Sam’s father basically threatened him that he would have Sam take the Black, so that Dickon could inherit Horn Hill and the sword, and it could be passed on in the way he felt it should. If Sam chose not to take the Black, then there would be a hunting trip, and an “accident” would happen to Sam.

Jon returned to the dining hall, and the others began making fun of Sam. He stopped them, and told them all “how it was going to be” when it came to the treatment of Sam in the lists. Rast spoke up, and stated that he would not go along, and would look to give Sam a beating if offered the chance. That night, with the help of Grenn, Pyp, and Ghost, they paid a visit to Rast, and scared him straight.

Notes: When Jon addressed the other men there about Sam, he was able to do what he needed to do, say what he needed to say, to each of the men to convince them to go along with him. In this respect, he showed some great leadership qualities. He also begins to see the other men around him as his brothers, as Benjen had told him he would.