Re-reading Song of Ice and Fire

Chapter 40, Catelyn
Summary
Lannisters are gathering a host at Casterly Rock, Tully’s are preparing for the war. Blackfish intends to leave the Vale and join his family in the hour of need. Catelyn intends to stop the trial by combat, but Lysa gives her no chance. Bronn and Ser Vardis fight. Sellsword kills the knight and Tyrion wins his freedom. Lysa allows him to leave the Vale through the High Road, where she’s certain he’s going to die of the hands of clansmen.

Quotes

“The boy is utterly without discipline. He will never be strong enough to rule unless he is taken away from his mother for a time.”
“His lord father agreed with you,” said a voice at her elbow. She turned to behold Maester Colemon, a cup of wine in his hand. “He was planning to send the boy to Dragonstone for fostering, you know…”

Ser Vardis turned his side to his foe, trying to use his shield to block instead, but Bronn slid around him, quick as a cat. The sellsword seemed to be getting stronger. His cuts were leaving their marks now. Deep shiny gashes gleamed all over the knight’s armor, on his right thigh, his beaked visor, crossing on his breastplate, a long one along the front of his gorget.

Commentary

Amazing fight between Ser Vardis clad in plate armor and Bronn wearing only leather. Clever tactic of exhausting the opponent and waiting for a moment to deal a blow that will go through the thick steel. If you thought the short skirmish of Ser Waymar with the Other was exciting, wait till you read this fight. The ending was not a big surprise, Martin allowed himself this one time to follow a “underdog gets to win” cliche. Don’t be disappointed though, it’s only a feint to put you off track. With Martin you don’t know who’s going to win, who’s going to live and who’s going to die betrayed by his closest friend.

This chapter also holds a piece of valuable information, which can be easily overlooked as not important. Maester Colemon tells Catelyn that Jon planned to send his son to be fostered on Dragonstone, with Stannis. Catelyn believes that he is mistaken, that the boy was supposed to be sent to Lord Tywin and that the arrangement was made after Jon’s death. Maester Colemon was right and the fact that Jon wanted to send away his son was one of the reasons he died so suddenly. However, I do not want to spoil the story by revealing too much, so I won’t say more.

Chapter 34, Catelyn
Summary
Catelyn arrives at the Bloody Gates, the entrance to the realm of Arryns. She meets there Ser Brynden Blackfish, her uncle. Together they go to the Gates of the Moon, behind which lies a long climb to the Eyrie. Lysa sent the word that she wants to see the prisoner and Catelyn immediately, so the party climbs to the keep during the night. When the sisters finally meet Lysa is furious at Catelyn for bringing Lannister to her home.

Quotes

Her uncle glanced back, to where Tyrion Lannister was making his slow descent behind them. “I see an axe on his saddle, a dirk at his belt, and a sellsword that trails after him like a hungry shadow. Where are the chains, sweet one?”

“Have you taken leave of your senses?” Lysa snapped at her. “To bring him here, without a word of permission, without so much as a warning, to drag us into your quarrels with the Lannisters…”

Commentary

The party escorting Tyrion reaches Eyrie. Imp managed to survive the trip and bond with one of the thugs. Catelyn begins to doubt his guilt. She’s afraid that people who died in her service, bringing him to the Vale died for nothing.

The biggest surprise of the chapter is greeting Lysa has for her sister. Not only she’s not pleased with her, but she’s furious that Cat dragged her into HER quarrels with Lannisters. Could this be just stupid woman talking or are we nearing some inconvenient truth here? Were Lannisters not behing Jon’s death? Was it really Varys?

Chapter 28, Catelyn
Summary
Catelyn and Ser Rodrik arrive at the inn where on the same day Tyrion Lannister makes a stop. Catelyn is recognized by Tyrion, which forces her hand, she calls out to her father’s banner men and takes him prisoner.

Quotes

“This man came a guest into my house, and there conspired to murder my son, a boy of seven,” she proclaimed to the room at large, pointing. Ser Rodrik moved to her side, his sword in hand. “In the name of King Robert and the good lords you serve, I call upon you to seize him and help me return him to Winterfell to await the king’s justice.”
She did not know what was more satisfying: the sound of a dozen swords drawn as one or the look on Tyrion Lannister’s face.

Commentary

Only one main event in this chapter, maybe because of the weight it bears on the story. Catelyn Stark on her way back to Winterfell stumbles upon Tyrion Lannister and takes him hostage. This act, however spontaneous and not thought through, has started a chain of events that end in war that consumes the Seven Kingdoms. But lets not get ahead of ourselves.

Chapter 18, Catelyn
Summary
Catelyn and Ser Rodric arrive at Kings Landing. They want keep their presence a secret, so they buy a room in an inn. Ser Roderic goes to the castle to speak about the dagger with armorer. While he’s gone guards of Lord Petyr visit Catelyn in the inn and bring her in front of Littlefinger. Turns out that Varys, Master of Whispers, learned about her arrival after all. Three of them talk about events that took place in Winterfell. Petyr admits that the dagger was his, but he lost it to Tyrion in a bet during last tourney.

Quotes

“He was my father’s ward. We grew up together in Riverrun. I thought of him as a brother, but his feelings for me were… more than brotherly. When it was announced that I was to wed Brandon Stark, Petyr challenged for the right to my hand.”

Nothing happens in this city without Varys knowing. Oftimes he knows about it before it happens. He has informants everywhere. His little birds, he calls them.

Commentary

Two more important characters introduced. Catelyn’s old friend (or boyfriend, depending on who you believe), Lord Petyr Baelish(or Littlefinger as he’s often called) and Varys, Kings Master of Whispers. Both characters will play major roles in the events of this and following books.

In this chapter we get another plot twist, the name of the owner of valyrian steel dagger is revealed. Littlefinger announces that the dagger was his, however he lost it to Tyrion. The Lannister threat seems to grow very fast, Catelyn is terrified.

Chapter 14, Catelyn
Summary
Catelyn, mad with grief, does not leave Bran’s side. Neither Maester Luwin nor Robb are able to talk sense into her. Robb needs to step up as the ruler of Winterfell. Eight days after Ned goes south the library stands in fire. Everyone except Catelyn rushes to put it out. Bran and Catelyn are attacked by unknown man. The man wounds Cat and is killed by Bran’s wolf.

This event finally pushes Catelyn over the edge, she agrees to get some rest. She sleeps for four days and awakens as her old self. She announces to Robb, Ser Rodric and Maester Luwin that she believes the killer was sent by Lannisters and that Jaime is responsible for Bran’s fall. She intends to take the killer’s valyrian steel dagger and go to Kings Landing, to find out who was the original owner of the weapon.

Quotes

“My son lies here broken and dying, Luwin, and you wish to discuss a new master of horse? Do you think I care what happens in the stables? Do you think it matters to me one whit? I would gladly butcher every horse in Winterfell with my own hands if it would open Bran’s eyes, do you understand that? Do you?”

There was a low rumble, less than a snarl, the merest whisper of a threat, but he must have heard something, because he started to turn just as the wolf made its leap. The wolf had him under the jaw. The man’s shriek lasted less than a second before the beast wrenched back its head, taking out half his throat.

Commentary

Catelyn’s madness continues as she spends her days at Bran’s side. Unable to leave the crippled son for even few moments she disregards her other duties, to her family and to her people. It takes a skirmish with a killer to bring her back to her senses. Reading this chapter I couldn’t stop to wonder how life imitating it was. Not for the first time I felt that the book comes uncomfortably close to the brutal reality of life.

What I liked in the chapter was the role of Bran’s wolf. This is the first manifestation of their importance in children’s lives. The direwolves will protect the children, it’s their destiny to be at their side in the coming winter. Martin wanted to stress this point and prepare the reader for events of the two next chapters.