A Game of Thrones, Chapter 65, Arya
Summary
Arya survives on her own in Kings Landing. She avoids the trap Lannisters set for her aboard Wind Witch. She hears the bells ringing and learns that it’s the Hand of the King brought to the Great Sept to receive King’s justice. Joffrey does not allow Eddard to take the black and orders his head taken. Arya tries to push through the crowd to stop the execution, but she’s stopped by Yoren.
Quotes
“My mother bids me let Lord Eddard take the black, and Lady Sansa has begged mercy for her father.” He looked straight at Sansa then, and smiled, and for a moment Arya thought that the gods had heard her prayer, until Joffrey turned back to the crowd and said, “But they have the soft hearts of women. So long as I am your king, treason shall never go unpunished. Ser Ilyn, bring me his head!”
Ser Ilyn drew a two-handed greatsword from the scabbard on his back. As he lifted the blade above his head, sunlight seemed to ripple and dance down the dark metal, glinting off an edge sharper than any razor. Ice, she thought, he has Ice! Her tears streamed down her face, blinding her.
Commentary
Martin doesn’t give reader time to shake off the horrors of the previous chapter. In this one we’re facing another tragedy, which is almost unbelievable for the first time readers. How often do you see your leading character killed in the first book of the series?
I think that one of the reasons for the success of Song of Ice and Fire is the great amount of feelings the books raise in readers. I’m sure that some people are turned down by the cruelty, that they are not able to cope with the death of their favorite characters, that they think that it’s not worth it, that there are other books out there that don’t make them so sad. But the people who stay with the books, stay for good. They live the story, they fear for the lives of the characters, they feel their love and pain.
I was on the verge of joining the first group. After finishing A Game of Thrones I thought that this is the last time I’m looking at the book by GRRM. A week passed. And another. I kept thinking about the book, about the characters still alive, about the fate of the realm, about the dragons… and by the third week, I reached for the second book.
And now, look at me. 
I’m re-reading the series for n-th time and writing this blog.
I think that I derailed the commentary a bit. Back to the topic: Ned’s death was a clear sign that the new king is more dangerous than even his family expected. In this one stupid move he made Robb the leader of all Houses in the North and Riverlands, ensured that they will not settle for peace and took the only real coin his family could bargain for life of Jaime Lannister. Joffrey adapted his “father’s” method of ruling: “This is how it’s going to be, because I say so!” but even in his craziest hour Robert wasn’t that stupid.
The fact remains, Ned died and died for nothing.
Tags: Arya
