Re-reading Song of Ice and Fire

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?

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 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.

Chapter 37, Bran
Summary
The news from Kings Landing reaches Winterfell. Ned Stark is still unconscious, it’s not certain if he’s going to survive. Bran and Robb with the party of Winterfell guards go for a hunt. This is the first time Bran is riding a horse. Robb tries to pick up Bran’s mood and “race” him. They detach from the party. Boys hear their direwolves make a kill, Robb rides off to them to get their prey. Bran is alone. He’s found by a group of Night’s Watch deserters and wildlings, they first want to rob him, then take him hostage. Robb returns with the direwolves, fight ensues. When only two of the wildlings are left alive one takes Bran hostage and holds knife to his throat. The wildling is killed by Theon’s arrow, the last one, woman named Osha, is taken prisoner.

Quotes

“Only the lord can call the banners,” Bran said as the snow drifted down around them.
“If your father dies,” Theon said, “Robb will be Lord of Winterfell.”
“He won’t die!” Bran screamed at him.

Robb whistled. They heard the faint sound of soft feet on wet leaves. The undergrowth parted, low-hanging branches giving up their accumulation of snow, and Grey Wind and Summer emerged from the green. Summer sniffed the air and growled.
“Wolves,” gasped Hali.
“Direwolves,” Bran said.

Commentary

Those are difficult times for the boys. All the family save little Rickon has left. The news of Ned’s state really troubles Robb. Bran doesn’t want to believe that their father can die, but his brother is looking into the future and is scared. If their father should die, he would become the Lord of Winterfell. He is not looking forward to it.

The encounter with wildlings and Night’s Watch renegades only reinforces the feeling of uncertainty. It also serves to remind us about the treat stirring in the North. Wildlings who got through to the other side of the Wall do not want to even think about going back and facing the Others.

Chapter 24, Bran
Summary
Bran is sitting in the tower with Old Nan, who’s telling him stories about Others. In the meantime Tyrion and his Night’s Watch escort arrive at Winterfell. Tyrion is not a welcome guest and he knows it. He leaves as soon as he shares his idea on how Bran can ride a horse. He leaves Maester Luwin with plans for a special saddle.

Quotes

They were cold things, dead things, that hated iron and fire and the touch of the sun, and every creature with hot blood in its veins.

The word was a knife through Bran’s heart. He felt tears come unbidden to his eyes. “I’m not a cripple!”
“Then I am not a dwarf,” the dwarf said with a twist of his mouth. “My father will rejoice to hear it.”

Commentary

Bran suffers being a cripple, he still can’t make peace with the fact that his old life is gone. He’s lashing out and hurting everyone around. It’s the visit of the Imp that brings a bit of hope into boy’s life. After having the prospect of leading entire life being carried by servants the thought of riding a horse on his own thrills Bran. Tyrion did what he promised Jon, be brought his brother hope.