Re-reading Song of Ice and Fire

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 71, Catelyn
Summary
Robb, Catelyn and the liege lords enter Riverrun. They learn about Lord Hoster’s sickness. Robb holds a war council to discuss their next move. They learn that Renly was crowned and is supported by the power of Highgarden. Not wanting to make peace and bending knee to any of the kings in the realm Greatjon Umber calls Robb the King in the North. The rest of Robb’s liege lords join him in swearing fealty.

Quotes

Only one quote in this chapter, but WHAT a quote!

“Why shouldn’t we rule ourselves again? It was the dragons we married, and the dragons are all dead!” He pointed at Robb with the blade. “There sits the only king I mean to bow my knee to, m’lords,” he thundered. “The King in the North!”
And he knelt, and laid his sword at her son’s feet.
“I’ll have peace on those terms,” Lord Karstark said. “They can keep their red castle and their iron chair as well.” He eased his longsword from its scabbard. “The King in the North!” he said, kneeling beside the Greatjon.
Maege Mormont stood. “The King of Winter!” she declared, and laid her spiked mace beside the swords. And the river lords were rising too, Blackwood and Bracken and Mallister, houses who had never been ruled from Winterfell, yet Catelyn watched them rise and draw their blades, bending their knees and shouting the old words that had not been heard in the realm for more than three hundred years, since Aegon the Dragon had come to make the Seven Kingdoms one… yet now were heard again, ringing from the timbers of her father’s hall:
“The King in the North!”
“The King in the North!”
“THE KING IN THE NORTH!”

Commentary

The last two chapters of the book have one thing and one thing only to achieve: bring the reader back to read the second book. And I’ll be damned if they don’t achieve that!

The son of Ned Stark is rising to take his fathers place. Forced by Ned’s untimely demise Robb has to mature quickly and he does that following closely his father’s steps. He’s shaping up to be a strong and just Lord… and a King! That’s an amazing cliffhanger, I have to give props to Martin for this idea. Although I probably wouldn’t be so happy if I had to wait few years for the next book… Luckily I had Clash of Kings handy.

Lets get back to the chapter for a second. In the shadow of war effort and the raise of the new kings is Catelyn’s drama. Her husband is killed, her children are crippled, held captive, missing or facing mortal danger on the field of battle. The mother in her wants nothing more than to end this nightmare, to hold her daughters again, to see her sons grow old. Her motherly love is no match for men’s need for revenge. Tyrion was right, any chance for peace was shattered when Ser Ilyn took Ned’s life.

This chapter is also a grand introduction of the next book: A Clash of Kings. There are already three kings in the realm: Joffrey, Stannis (even though he’s hiding on Dragonstone) and now Renly. With Robb being crowned as the King in the North the realm becomes crowded with rulers. And this is not the end yet…

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.

Chapter 59, Catelyn
Summary
Robb and his army reach the Twins. By this time Riverrun is under siege from Jaime’s host. Lord Frey closed the gates, only his envoy invites Robb to talk. Catelyn goes instead of Robb. She manages to reach an agreement with Lord Walder. His men join the Stark force and lets part of the army through to relieve Riverrun. The rest of the army moves south to meet Tywin Lannister’s host.

Quotes

“Father,” Ser Stevron said reproachfully, “you forget yourself. Lady Stark is here at your invitation.”
“Did I ask you? You are not Lord Frey yet, not until I die. Do I look dead? I’ll hear no instructions from you.”

“You say you want to cross the river?”
“We do.”
“Well, you can’t!” Lord Walder announced crisply. “Not unless I allow it, and why should I? The Tullys and the Starks have never been friends of mine.” He pushed himself back in his chair and crossed his arms, smirking, waiting for her answer.
The rest was only haggling.

Commentary

The war that will lay waste to the Seven Kingdoms has begun. With his usual skill Martin eases the reader into the conflict, giving him the taste of things to come. First battle happened somewhere in the background. We only hear about the defeat Edmure suffered from the hand of Kingslayer. Soon enough Robb himself will feel the touch of death that inevitably follows each battle.

First though Robb needs to win a battle of strategy. He manages this thanks to Catelyn. Lord Walder Fray doesn’t know the meaning of word “loyalty”. His assistance needs to be bought. Not having any choice, Starks has to pay.

There is an interesting detail in this chapter. Again we hear that Jon Arryn’s son, little Robert, was to be fostered in Dragonstone, Lord Stannis’ keep. I have mentioned it before as this fact has a special significance that will reveal itself later on in the story. For now, I’ll say only this: Lysa was very unhappy with her husband for making plans to take the child away from her…

Chapter 55, Catelyn
Summary
Catelyn joins the host Robb commands. She and Robb discuss recent news and battle plans. The war is coming.

Quotes

“Mother, what are we going to do? I brought this whole army together, eighteen thousand men, but I don’t… I’m not certain…” He looked to her, his eyes shining, the proud young lord melted away in an instant, and quick as that he was a child again, a fifteen-year-old boy looking to his mother for answers.
It would not do.

“Be certain,” Catelyn told her son, “or go home and take up that wooden sword again. You cannot afford to seem indecisive in front of men like Roose Bolton and Rickard Karstark. Make no mistake, Robb-these are your bannermen, not your friends. You named yourself battle commander. Command.”

Commentary

This is the first peak into another side of Song of Ice and Fire. The Great Houses are going to war, each one trying to outsmart the other. The amount of detail Martin includes in the strategy discussion is massive, however he still manages to keep it interesting.

This chapter is a true feast for imagination. Robb is going to face Tywin Lannister, a careful, seasoned commander. Knowing that he doesn’t have any experience on the battlefield Robb has to rely on the advice of his liege lords. The boy is not certain what he should do, each scenario described plays in the mind of the reader, presents hundreds of possible outcomes. Each decision is thought through and explained. It’s a great lesson in medieval warfare.

This chapter also shows how Robb struggles assuming the place of his father. He’s still a boy of sixteen, he’s uncertain, doesn’t want to rush into something he’s not prepared for and yet he needs to show that he’s a capable commander. The boy is going to grow in next few chapters.