A Game of Thrones, Chapter 53, Bran
Summary
Robb has called the banners. The liege lords are coming to Winterfell with their armies. Combined force under Robb’s command leaves south. Bran speaks with Osha, who tells him that there are Others beyond the wall and his brother should take army North instead of South.
Quotes
“To be a knight, you must stand your vigil in a sept, and be anointed with the seven oils to consecrate your vows. In the north, only a few of the great houses worship the Seven. The rest honor the old gods, and name no knights… but those lords and their sons and sworn swords are no less fierce or loyal or honorable. A man’s worth is not marked by a ser before his name.”
Robb only said a quiet word, and in a snarl and the blink of an eye Lord Umber was on his back, his sword spinning on the floor three feet away and his hand dripping blood where Grey Wind had bitten off two fingers. “My lord father taught me that it was death to bare steel against your liege lord,” Robb said, “but doubtless you only meant to cut my meat.”
Bran would never forget the look on Robb’s face as he stared at their sister’s words. “She says Father conspired at treason with the king’s brothers,” he read. “King Robert is dead, and Mother and I are summoned to the Red Keep to swear fealty to Joffrey. She says we must be loyal, and when she marries Joffrey she will plead with him to spare our lord father’s life.” His fingers closed into a fist, crushing Sansa’s letter between them. “And she says nothing of Arya, nothing, not so much as a word. Damn her! What’s wrong with the girl?”
Commentary
A great insight into how the recent events impact the life of Ned and Catelyn’s youngest children. Robb is brutally dragged into the role of Lord of Winterfell. He’s forced to call the banners and prepare for war. Bran is lost and frightened, everyone is leaving and from his perspective, whoever leaves, never comes back. He’s trying to find consolation in prayer. We see the boy moving more and more to the spiritual world, preparing him for the role he’s going to eventually play in the series. Maester Luwin claims that no one can teach him magic, yet he’s wrong about that and other things as well.
What I find especially heart breaking is what’s happening with little Rickon. Being abandoned by everyone he loves the boy grows angry. He believes that the only “person” who’s not going to leave him and is his only friend is his direwolf, Shaggydog. It’s starting to really get out of hand when during Rickon’s angry outburst Shaggydog attacks people.
The one who seems to be taking it the best is Robb, but that’s only a facade he’s holding for his bannermen. In truth he’s terrified. After the incident with Greatjon Umber he confides to Bran that even though he kept his cool, he was scared the giant is going to kill him. Stark children are forced to grow up much faster than they should.
Tags: Bran
