Re-reading Song of Ice and Fire

Chapter 8, Tyrion
Summary
Tyrion drinks with Lord Janos Slynt. After the conversation Tyrion gives Slynt to the new captain of the gold cloaks with orders to send him and his trusted men to the Wall. When Janos is taken away Varys visits Tyrion. They talk about Slynt’s involvement in Ned’s death and murder of Robert’s bastard. Varys reveals that he planned for one boy to escape Cersei’s wrath.

Quotes

“I told them to throw Allar Deem into the sea. I am sorely tempted to do the same with you.”
“You might be disappointed by the result,” Varys replied.
“The storms come and go, the waves crash overhead, the big fish eat the little fish, and I keep on paddling.”

“Alas, no. There was another bastard, a boy, older. I took steps to see him removed from harm’s way… but I confess, I never dreamed the babe would be at risk. A baseborn girl, less than a year old, with a whore for a mother. What threat could she pose?”
“She was Robert’s,” Tyrion said bitterly.

Who truly killed Eddard Stark do you think? Joffrey, who gave the command? Ser Ilyn Payne, who swung the sword? Or… another?”

Tyrion had the City Watch now, plus a hundred-and-a-half fierce clansmen and a growing force of sellswords recruited by Bronn. He would seem well protected. Doubtless Eddard Stark thought the same.

“How do you know which ones to hire?”
“I look them over. I question them, to learn where they’ve fought and how well they lie.”
Bronn smiled. “And then I give them a chance to kill me, while I do the same for them.”
“Have you killed any?”
“No one we could have used.”
“And if one of them kills you?”
“He’ll be one you’ll want to hire.”

Commentary

This is one of my favorite chapters, full of hidden schemes and meanings.

First of all, Tyrion is starting to build his domain in King’s Landing. He’s killing two birds with one stone by removing the butcher Janos Slynt and replacing him with his own man (or, as he reflects, replacing Littlefinger’s man with Varys’). He thinks that securing the gold cloaks plus the army of mercenaries recruited by Bronn should make him feel safe, but he also keeps in mind that Ned was also feeling safe and it didn’t do him much good.

Tyrion is also having an interesting conversation with the Spider himself. Tyrion tells Varys that he’s tempted to remove him just like he did it with Slynt, but Varys doesn’t seem scared. He even kind of boasts, that big fish come and go and he keeps on paddling.

Varys also says something very intriguing. He hints on the possibility that it was not Ilyn Payne, nor Joffrey that killed Ned Stark. He leaves the question hanging in there and the general understanding is that it was Joffrey that gave the command and should bear the responsibility, but what if there was someone else, who convinced Joffrey that leaving Stark alive would be a sign of weakness or that he should punish Ned for the humiliation Arya put him through? Just a thought to ponder.

There is one more plot touched in this chapter - Robert’s bastards. Cersei wants them dead and she doesn’t hesitate sending men to kill new born children. Varys reveals to have plotted to hide one of Robert’s bastards. It’s logical to assume that he’s talking about Gendry. What were his reasons? Who can tell? Does he have a plan that involves Gendry? Did he do it to honor Robert’s life? To save his child knowing that the “true-born” were not his own? Or did he just do it to spite Cersei? I wonder.

The last thing that amused me greatly in this chapter is once again the filled with cynism comedic duo of Tyrion and Bronn. Those two are worth each other.

Chapter 7, Catelyn
Summary
Robb sends Ser Cleos Frey to carry the peace offer to the Lannisters. This does not go well with some of his bannermen. Later Robb has a quarrel with Catelyn regarding the terms he proposed for the peace and the choice of the messenger he’s sending to Balon Greyjoy. Catelyn advises against sending Theon. In the meantime Ser Brynden comes back to Riverrun with news on the Lannister movements. The riverlands are awash with blood from their raiding while another Lannister host is gathered in Casterly Rock.

Quotes

“I will do as I pledged,” Ser Cleos replied stiffly. “What is this message? ”
“An offer of peace.” Robb stood, longsword in hand.

“There are the terms. If she meets them, I’ll give her peace. if not” - he whistled, and Grey Wind moved forward snarling - “I’ll give her another Whispering Wood.”
“Stark!” the Greatjon roared again, and now other voices took up the cry. “Stark, Stark, King in the North!” The direwolf threw back his head and howled.
Ser Cleos had gone the color of curdled milk. “The queen shall hear your message, my-Your Grace.”

He pushed a fall of hair out of his eyes and gave a shake of the head. “I might have been able to trade the Kingslayer for Father, but…”
“…but not for the girls?” Her voice was icy quiet. “Girls are not important enough, are they?”

“That’s blood up there, child, smeared across the sky.”
“Our blood or theirs?”
“Was there ever a war where only one side bled?”

Commentary

Robb, much like Robert Baratheon, is quickly finding out that winning battles is the easy part of waging war. He is pressured by Catelyn to end the pointless bloodshed, his bannermen are divided between those who want to go to battle and the ones who want to go back and defend their lands. There are also those who want justice done to Jaime Lannister. Robb’s life is a nightmare, even though he sees to be winning the war.

The peace offer did not seem to bring any value to Robb’s situation. The Lannisters would never agree to the terms, Robb believed that the offer was already too sweet and some of his liege lords were offended by the fact that he even considers peace before the blood of their kin was avenged.

Robb has many difficult decisions to face and there is no solution, no answer that would make all of his follower pleased. Additionally he’s facing accusations from Cat, who wants nothing more than to get back with her family, to see her daughters again. She’s blinded with cold fury when she sees how rational Robb is in regards to prisoner exchange, how he doesn’t see his sisters worth the same as Jaime Lannister. The pain makes her cruel. Her point of view is the one of the mother. Robb knows though that mothers don’t win wars…

Chapter 6, Jon
Summary
Jon is looking for Sam in the old library. Samwell is looking for maps of the haunted forest for their raiding. Together they bring the maps to Lord Mormont. Old Bear gives Jon lecture on Targaryen kings and questions his feelings on king Robb.

Quotes

“And his brothers?” Jon asked.
The armorer considered that a moment. “Robert was the true steel. Stannis is pure iron, black and hard and strong, yes, but brittle, the way iron gets. He’ll break before he bends. And Renly, that one, he’s copper, bright and shiny, pretty to look at but not worth all that much at the end of the day.”

“Blind he may be, but Aemon knows what he’s about. I pray the gods let us keep him another twenty years. Do you know that he might have been king?”
Jon was taken by surprise. “He told me his father was king, but not… I thought him perhaps a younger son.”

“Robb will rule, you will serve. Men will call you a crow. Him they’ll call Your Grace. Singers will praise every little thing he does, while your greatest deeds all go unsung. Tell me that none of this troubles you, Jon… and I’ll name you a liar, and know I have the truth of it.”
Jon drew himself up, taut as a bowstring. “And if it did trouble me, what might I do, bastard as I am?”
“What will you do?” Mormont asked. “Bastard as you are?”
“Be troubled,” said Jon, “and keep my vows.”

Commentary

The entire storyline of Jon and the Night’s Watch revolves around the conflicting feelings and the fight between two strongest forces in human psyche: the bond with family and the determination to keep your honor, to keep your vows.

Jon’s will is tested once more with Robb being crowned the King in the North. Knowing that his half brother will be the heir to Winterfell is entirely different thing than knowing that he’s going to be a King. Mormont has the right of it. The message he passes o Jon though is: those feelings are not bad in themselves. They are natural. Now what can be good or bad is the way we deal with them. Jon chooses to “be troubled and keep his vows”.

Chapter 5, Arya
Summary
Yoren and the Night’s Watch recruits reach an inn. Yoren decides to stay there for a meal and a bath. While they prepare for rest a group of gold cloaks reaches the inn. They have queen’s order to bring a boy back to King’s Landing. Arya thinks it’s her they are after and share’s it with Gendry. It turns out the gold cloaks are after Robert’s bastard. Yoren refuses to give Gendry up and threatens the soldiers. Gold cloaks leave but they promise to be back.

Quotes

“A boy has more courage than sense,” the one who had named himself Jaqen H’ghar observed.

“You’ll have no one,” Yoren said stubbornly. “There’s laws on such things.”
The gold cloak drew a shortsword. “Here’s your law.”
Yoren looked at the blade. “That’s no law, just a sword. Happens I got one too.”

“Don’t see why no one wants neither o’ you,” Yoren said, “but they can’t have you regardless. You ride them two coursers. First sight of a gold cloak, make for the Wall like a dragon’s on your tail. The rest o’ us don’t mean spit to them.”
“Except for you,” Arya pointed out. “That man said he’d take your head too.”
“Well, as to that,” Yoren said, “if he can get it off my shoulders, he’s welcome to it.”

Commentary

The recruits slowly move towards the lands ruled by fire and sword. Although Yoren is confident that the fact that Night’s Watch does not take part in realm wars will guarantee them safe passage other travellers are not so certain.

The journey does not become any safer when Yoren decides to stand up to gold cloaks sent by the queen after Robert’s bastard. Cersei, knowing that the truth about her offspring may see the light of the day wants to make sure that whoever comes out with the news does not have Robert’s heir with him. Each bastard Robert fathered in theory has the claim to the throne as the King didn’t have any legitimate children. Cersei should be more concerned with Stannis and Renly, who have a stronger claim, but lacking the power to reach them she chooses to go after the easy prey - children.

As for Arya, she makes a mistake assuming she’s the only one queen would have interest in. When the gold cloaks show up she reveals to Gendry that she’s the one they are after peaking his interest. Is this a beginning of a romantic relationship between the two outlaws? Maybe Robert’s son will wed Ned’s daughter after all…

There is one more thing worth mentioning in this chapter. The character of Jaqen H’ghar. He’s introduced as dangerous criminal travelling in a cage with two other men, however he claims that it is not the company he chose for himself. He doesn’t sound like a criminal that needs to be locked in chains. His true identity (if you can call it that…) will be revealed later on as will be his role in Arya’s life.

On the side note kudos to Yoren for standing up to the gold cloaks!

Chapter 4, Bran
Summary
Bran starts to have wolf dreams. When he falls asleep he dreams that he’s Summer. His bond with the direwolf becomes stronger even though they are separated. The direwolves are kept locked in the godswood after Shaggydog attacks one of the Walders. Osha tells Bran to give in to his wolf dreams.

Quotes

“Oooo,” Bran cried tentatively. He cupped his hands around his mouth and lifted his head to the comet. “Ooooooooooooooooooo, ahooooooooooooooo, ” he howled. it sounded stupid, high and hollow and quavering, a little boy’s howl, not a wolf’s. Yet Summer gave answer, his deep voice drowning out Bran’s thin one, and Shaggydog made it a chorus. Bran haroooed again. They howled together, last of their pack.

Winterfell, he remembered, the sound coming to him suddenly. Beyond its sky-tall man-cliffs the true world was calling, and he knew he must answer or die.

Commentary

Brans destiny starts to surface. Being trapped in his crippled body the boy is looking for ways to break free and unconsciously reaches out to his direwolf. Boy and the beast share the mind.

Bran is beginning to think that there is more to the world than what Maester Luwin teaches him. He remembers how the direwolves knew about his father’s death. With the wolf dreams Bran starts to see other things as well. He can feel the weirwood dreams. The question springs to my mind - is he the only one who has this power, was he chosen for some strange reason? Or is it the fact that he’s crippled, that he’s reaching inside himself while his brothers and sisters are constantly distracted by the world around them? I hope that with time we’ll find out.

While this chapter is mostly about Bran (it’s his POV after all) I keep wondering what role does his little brother have to play in the story. Rickon, boy deprived of his parents long before he was ready to let them go is struggling to find a place for himself in this strange world. He’s growing as wild as his direwolf. Is he going to cause trouble before this tale is told?