A Song of Ice and Fire

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A Game of Thrones; Eddard

Council meeting. Robert wants Dany, who is with child, dead. He fears that the child is a threat to the kingdom, should they seek what they feel is theirs by right. Varys brought the news to the council, from Ser Jorah Mormont. Robert wants the whole of them killed, including Viserys. Ned is against it, and Robert is furious with him for it. Renly felt is should have been done after the war, but Jon Arryn asked Robert to grant them mercy. Ned said that mercy is never a mistake. He noted that on the Trident Ser Barristan cut down a dozen of Robert and Ned’s good friends, yet Robert pardoned him. Robert doesn’t see it as the same. Of the council, only Ned and Selmy disagree with Robert. The rest of the council agrees that the death should happen (including Varys; perhaps a play-along). After quarrelling over the matter, and Ned will not support it. Robert tells Ned to leave, and Ned leaves, removing the chain of hands about his neck that denotes his office. Ways of doing the job go on as he leaves (assassins, Tears of Lys). At the mention of the Tears, Pycelle shoots Varys a dirty look (a reference to the Arryn death?).

Ned returns to his quarters, and make preparations to leave. He is going to leave soon, too, perhaps by boat. He is going over all the goings on in his mind, and worries that with Robert angry now, when he learns of Cat capturing Tryion, what might happen. He wants to leave, but much is left undone. He thought of taking a ship, and stopping to speak with Stannis before moving on to Winterfell.

His thoughts are interrupted by the arrival of Littlefinger. Apparently, a Lady Tanda wants Petyr to wed one of her daughters, and is on his way to sup with her. The council decided to grant a title to whoever ends up getting the job done. Ned is disgusted, but Petyr tells him that he did her a favor. It will most likely be botched, and then the Dothraki will protect her even moreso. Ned doesn’t really buy it. Petyr finishes by telling Ned that if he is still around in the evening, he will take him to the brothel that Jory has been looking for.

Notes: The Faceless Men are mentioned; a group of assassins from Braavos. The council is also kind of fickle. Renly and Robert seem to both feel the same about the Targaryens. Selmy seems to have a sense of pride akin to Ned’s. Pycelle plays political; you can tell by his answers.

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A Game of Thrones; Catelyn

Cat’s party has been met up with riders from the Vale, Ser Donnel Waynwood. They had been attacked a few more times by the clansmen of the mountains, and they thought they were doomed to another, when he and his men rode out instead. He states that Lysa will not allow anyone to ride out; she keeps the men around to protect the Vale, but they know not from what.

Cat notes that Tyrion has befriended Bronn, and the two were always together. Tyrion has also been riding armed with a dirk, his axe, and a chain mail hauberk. She has even begun to wonder if she was wrong about Tyrion.

They are met at the gate by Brynden Tully, known as the Blackfish; Cat’s uncle. Before making their way to the Eyrie, Ser Rodrik must stay, as he cannot continue. Marillion asks to continue, and Bronn jumps on the bandwagon, too. Cat doesn’t like him, but he did help out, and had proven himself a valiant fighter. However, he took too much to Tyrion for her liking.

Story time: Brynden is the brother of Lord Hoster Tully, Cat’s father. They had always quarreled, and Hoster referred to him once as the black goat of the family. Since their family emblem was a trout, he took the name Blackfish instead, and has since worn his emblem as a black trout. The war between the two ended when Brynden told Hoster that he would go to serve Lord Arryn when Lysa married him. He left, and the Hoster never spoke his name again. Brynden always listened to Cat, Edmure, Littlefinger, and all the children when younger. He listened now, too.

Cat told him all that had passed. He stated that her father must be warned, because Riverrun lay right in the path should the Lannisters seek battle; it is not as well defended as the Vale, and Winterfell is so far to the North. Many in the Vale are angry at the death of Jon Arryn, and the naming of Jaime Lannister to the office that the Arryns had held for nearly 300 years (which office?). Lysa counts her son, Robert, the True Warden of the East (this office?). But the boy is 6, sickly, and prone to crying much…the boy is not quite right. Lysa claims to be courting for a new husband, but Brynden believes she is playing the game, and plans to rule on her own until Robert is old enough. Lysa is not the same as when Cat left, and feels she will not be helpful. Her marriage was of politics, like Cat’s, but it turned out less happy for Lysa. She fled the Lannisters, and now Cat has brought a Lannister to her. Brynden feels that she may be wrong about Lannister.

At the gate to towers, we meet Lord Nestor Royce, and a girl named Mya Stone, who will take Cat up the mountain this night. I believe Mya is a child of King Robert’s; perhaps her first. She is about 18 years old. The mention of her last name reminds her of Jon Snow, and she doesn’t like the feeling at all.

Finally, Cat and Lysa meet. Lysa greets her warmly, but when she dismisses her household help, she turns very sour very fast. She is angered that Cat brought Lannister to her. She warned Cat so that she would run from the Lannisters, not fight them. Also, when Jon told her on the death bed that the seed was strong, she thought that she meant their son, Robert. She had no clue what he meant. Lysa feels that she is safe in the Eyrie; that it is impregnable. Cat does not think so. In regards to Tyrion, Lysa thinks that perhaps she will “make him fly.”

Notes: This is another long chapter, with a lot going on. The description of the Eyrie is unreal. What a place. Ned and Robert fostered there with Jon Arryn as boys.