Re-reading Song of Ice and Fire

Chapter 67, Sansa
Summary
Sansa is summoned by Joffrey to join him in the court. When she resists, he has a knight of the Kingsguard strike her. In the court King passes series of bloody judgments. Afterward Joffrey takes Sansa to show her heads of her father and his people. When she defies him he has her beaten again.

Quotes

He can make me look at the heads, she told herself, but he can’t make me see them.
“This one is your father,” he said. “This one here. Dog, turn it around so she can see him.”
Sandor Clegane took the head by the hair and turned it. The severed head had been dipped in tar to preserve it longer. Sansa looked at it calmly, not seeing it at all. It did not really look like Lord Eddard, she thought; it did not even look reaL “How long do I have to look?”
Joffrey seemed disappointed.

“After my name day feast, I’m going to raise a host and kill your brother myself. That’s what I’ll give you, Lady Sansa. Your brother’s head.”
A kind of madness took over her then, and she heard herself say, “Maybe my brother will give me your head.”

Commentary

Sansa’s horror has just begun.

Unfortunately for the girl Ned’s death was only the start of her misery. Not only is she left alone in the lair of the lion, but she has to suffer “the prince she really, trully loves”. Now she hates him and can’t bear to look at him. Joffrey though does not suffer insolence from anyone and least of all from his betrothed, which he treats more like a property than a living, breathing person.

King is also fascinated with his power to make people suffer. That he definitely did not learn from Robert. This smells more like a twisted observation of his mother’s behavior. Joffrey takes it a step further. He’s becoming a monster no better than Mad Aerys. He also doesn’t seem to comprehand how bad the situation is looking for him right now. Instead he offers to bring Sansa Robb’s head.

The brutal and complete change of Sansa’s life takes her to the brink of sanity. In her darkest hour she contemplates suicide. The moment passes though and the soft, well behaved child changes into completely closed off, half-dead-inside person. This is what trauma does to children and again Martin delivers the description with frightening detail and accuracy.

Chapter 66, Bran
Summary
Bran has a dream about his father. After he wakes up he wants to go down to the crypts where he dreamt he saw Ned. Hodor will not go down to the crypts, so Maester Luwin asks Osha to carry Bran. When they get to the crypt reserved for Ned they are attacked by Shaggydog, Rickon’s direwolf. Bran’s brother had the same dream and went down to the crypts to look for their father. Maester Luwin convinces boys to leave the crypts. They are all in Maester’s tower when the bird with news of Ned’s death arrives.

Quotes

“Rickon,” Bran said softly. “Father’s not here.”
“Yes he is. I saw him.” Tears glistened on Rickon’s face. “I saw him last night.”
“In your dream … ?”
Rickon nodded. “You leave him. You leave him be. He’s coming home now, like he promised. He’s coming home.”

Summer began to howl.
Maester Luwin broke off, startled. When Shaggydog bounded to his feet and added his voice to his brother’s, dread clutched at Bran’s heart.
The howling stopped as suddenly as it had begun. Summer padded across the tower floor to Shaggydog, and began to lick at a mat of bloody fur on the back of his brother’s neck. From the window came a flutter of wings.
A raven landed on the grey stone sill, opened its beak, and gave a harsh, raucous rattle of distress.
Rickon began to cry. His arrowheads fell from his hand one by one and clattered on the floor. Bran pulled him close and hugged him.

Commentary

Contrary to Maester’s beliefs there *is* magic in the world. It’s not out in the open and it’s only leaking back to the world after hundreds of years of hiding in the shadows, but it’s definitely there.

Bran’s and Rickon’s dream is no coincidence. They sensed their father’s death, perhaps even saw his spirit in their dreams. Is this the magic of greenseers, the children of the forest? I think it’s possible. Starks are still following the old ways, they respect the old gods. Maybe with Others waking in the North this is how the old gods are manifesting their return.

The background of this chapter is history of Westeros. Just like in the beginning of the book, in the Tyrion chapter, we’re being told about the old days, how the realm of Seven Kingdoms came to be. What I found most intriguing in the whole history was Martin’s approach to magic. As you might have noticed by now, the world of Song of Ice and Fire does not rely on magic like many other fantasy worlds do. Martin makes magic special, unique even, giving the reader taste of it, but not making it central to the story. Magic didn’t save the children of the forest. In the end, it’s the sword that claimed the land.

It’s refreshing to see a book where a wave of magic wand does not fix all the problems.

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.

Chapter 64, Daenerys
Summary
Drogo is too weak to ride. He falls from the horse, which in Dorthaki world means that he’s not fit to be a leader. Dany discovers that Drogo’s wound festered and he’s beyond healing. She summons Mirri hoping that she can use her magic to save him. Mirri tells her that there is very dark spell she can try and that she doesn’t know if death is not cleaner. Dany is certain that she wants to save Drogo. During the incantation the situation in Khalasaar erupts. Dorthaki fight among each other to claim the power relinquished by Drogo. Dany starts hurting and looks like she’s going into labor. She is brought to Mirri to deliver the baby.

Quotes

Khal Drogo reeled in the saddle, tilted slowly, and fell heavily from his horse.

Qotho glared down at her, his eyes hard as flint. “The maegi.” He spat. “This I will not do.”
“You will,” Dany said, “or when Drogo wakes, he will hear why you defied me.”

“There is a spell.” Her voice was quiet, scarcely more than a whisper. “But it is hard, lady, and dark. Some would say that death is cleaner. I learned the way in Asshai, and paid dear for the lesson. My teacher was a bloodmage from the Shadow Lands.”

“Only death may pay for life.”
“Death?” Dany wrapped her arms around herself protectively, rocked back and forth on her heels. “My death?” She told herself she would die for him, if she must. She was the blood of the dragon, she would not be afraid. Her brother Rhaegar had died for the woman he loved.
“No,” Mirri Maz Duur promised. “Not your death, Khaleesi.”
Dany trembled with relief. “Do it.”

“The maegi,” someone else said. Was that Aggo? “Take her to the maegi.”
No, Dany wanted to say, no, not that, you mustn’t, but when she opened her mouth, a long wail of pain escaped, and the sweat broke over her skin.

Commentary

I find this chapter very frightening. Martin’s ability to put terror into the heart of the reader really shines here.

One aspect of the fear is caused by the fact that Drogo is dying. The mighty Dorthaki, who promised to conquer Seven Kingdoms, Dany’s Sun and Stars is mortally wounded. And by now we know that it’s not a dramatic effect, that Martin will have no problem letting this character die.

But the really frightening things happen after Dany takes Mirri’s offer. We don’t know what she’s getting into, but the promise of something to which death is cleaner gives enough for every reader’s imagination. The combination of the trauma caused by Dorthaki seeking her death and dark spell being cast by Mirri sends Dany’s heart racing and pushes her over the edge - she goes into labor.

Mirri Maz Duur uses Dany’s unborn son, the Stallion Who Mounts the World to pay for Drogo’s death. Too late Dany decides that the price is too high. By the time she wants to back out she’s being carried to the tent where terrible ritual is taking place and the fate of her child is sealed.

I hate this chapter.
Not because it’s bad. I really appreciate the writing skill of GRRM in this particular part of the book.
I hate the feelings this chapter invokes in me. And I think that next time I re-read the story I’ll just skip it.

Chapter 63, Catelyn
Summary
Robb and his army lure Jaime into the trap in the Whispering Wood. Lannister force is slaughtered and Ser Jaime is captured. It’s a great victory for Starks, however not entirely without a sacrifice. Three of Robb’s liege lord sons die protecting him from Jaime.

Quotes

Catelyn watched her son as he moved among the men, touching one on the shoulder, sharing a jest with another, helping a third to gentle an anxious horse. His armor clinked softly when he moved. Only his head was bare. Catelyn watched a breeze stir his auburn hair, so like her own, and wondered when her son had grown so big. Fifteen, and near as tall as she was.
Let him grow taller, she asked the gods. Let him know sixteen, and twenty, and fifty. Let him grow as tall as his father, and hold his own son in his arms. Please, please, please.

Once she heard Robb’s voice, as clear as if he’d been standing at her side, calling, “To me! To me!” And she heard his direwolf, snarling and growling, heard the snap of those long teeth, the tearing of flesh, shrieks of fear and pain from man and horse alike. Was there only one wolf? It was hard to be certain.

“No one can fault Lannister on his courage,” Glover said. “When he saw that he was lost, he rallied his retainers and fought his way up the valley, hoping to reach Lord Robb and cut him down. And almost did.”
“He mislaid his sword in Eddard Karstark’s neck, after he took Torrhen’s hand off and split Daryn Hornwood’s skull open,” Robb said. “All the time he was shouting for me. If they hadn’t tried to stop him-”
“-I should then be mourning in place of Lord Karstark,” Catelyn said. “Your men did what they were sworn to do, Robb. They died protecting their liege lord. Grieve for them. Honor them for their valor.”

Commentary

The Whispering Wood. This chapter sends chills down my spine.

The story picks up the speed, two chapters in a row are filled with fighting. This time it’s the Lannisters who have their asses handed to them. The Whispering Wood becomes the symbol of Robb’s success. The first skirmish with the enemy is a howling success that fills his men with hope that this war can be won.

This chapter is special to me because of two things. One is of course the way Martin describes both the valor in combat and at the same time the ugly reality often forgotten in battle scenes. Jaime Lannister is a fearless warrior and readers start to respect him as one in this chapter. However we’re also drawn to the fact that his skill in combat results in death of men sworn to Robb. Eddard Karstark, named after Robb’s father, his brother Torrhen and Daryn laid their lives to save their liege lord. Robb is finding out that ruling people is not the hardest part of his destiny. It’s living with the consequences that is going to give him sleepless nights.

The second aspect of this chapter I really sympathize with is Lady Catelyn’s silent plea to gods to save, protect her son. The love she bears towards her son, her memories of seeing him grow up, the terror that holds her on mere thought that he might be in danger sends her heart racing.

It’s simply amazing that GRRM is able to put so much feeling into various and different elements of the book. Whether it’s a battle, a political intrigue or a vivid image of mother fearing for her son, Martin reaches into the bottom of readers heart and finds emotions we didn’t think we had for a book.

I can read his SoIaF over and over again.