Re-reading Song of Ice and Fire

Chapter 54, Daenerys
Summary
Dany struggles convincing Drogo to go conquer Westeros. A caravan comes to Vaes Dorthak while Drogo goes hunting. Dany finds a wine merchant there, who makes a gift for her, a barrel of finest wine. Jorah orders him to taste the wine. The wine seller tries to run. It turns out that the wine is poisoned. When Drogo hears that Usurper ordered his wife killed decides that he’s going to offer Seven Kingdoms as gift to his unborn son.

Quotes

“And to Rhaego son of Drogo, the stallion who will mount the world, to him I also pledge a gift. To him I will give this iron chair his mother’s father sat in. I will give him Seven Kingdoms. I, Drogo, khal, will do this thing.” His voice rose, and he lifted his fist to the sky. “I will take my khalasar west to where the world ends, and ride the wooden horses across the black salt water as no khal has done before. I will kill the men in the iron suits and tear down their stone houses. I will rape their women, take their children as slaves, and bring their broken gods back to Vaes Dothrak to bow down beneath the Mother of Mountains. This I vow, I, Drogo son of Bharbo. This I swear before the Mother of Mountains, as the stars look down in witness.”

Commentary

Ned was right. Khal had no intention of invading Seven Kingdoms. The world beyond the sea is nothing to him. It’s the attempt at Dany’s life makes him change his mind. One could wonder if this was the plan all along. Failed attempt at Dany’s life was foretold by Littlefinger. Could it be that this was the way Varys was making sure that Khal invades Westeros? That’s my conspiracy theory, which I mentioned in previous chapters. The result of that mockery of an assassination comes immediately. Drogo is not waiting for another attempt at his wife’s life. He’s gathering Khalsar and starts on his way to Seven Kingdoms.

Second significant event of this chapter is the first attempt of waking the dragons. Dany has a feeling that the dragon eggs are not dead. She feels a connection with them, yet it will take much more than flames alone to wake the dragons again.

Chapter 46, Daenerys
Summary
Dany goes through the ceremony of eating stallion’s heart. The prophecy for her son is announced. Viserys joins the feast that follows. He has a sword and threatens Dany. He demands army from Drogo. Khal melts his gold medallions and pours molten gold on Viserys’ head.

Quotes

“The prince is riding, and he shall be the stallion who mounts the world.”

“I want the crown he promised me. He bought you, but he never paid for you. Tell him I want what I bargained for, or I’m taking you back. You and the eggs both. He can keep his bloody foal. I’ll cut the bastard out and leave it for him.”

When the gold was half-melted and starting to run, Drogo reached into the flames, snatched out the pot. “Crown!” he roared. “Here. A crown for Cart King!” And upended the pot over the head of the man who had been her brother.
The sound Viserys Targaryen made when that hideous iron helmet covered his face was like nothing human. His feet hammered a frantic beat against the dirt floor, slowed, stopped. Thick globs of molten gold dripped down onto his chest, setting the scarlet silk to smoldering… yet no drop of blood was spilled.
He was no dragon, Dany thought, curiously calm. Fire cannot kill a dragon.

Commentary

The customs of Dorthaki are barbarous, however Dany finds it in herself to embrace them. She has always been a loyal sister to Viserys and now she transfers the loyalty to her husband, Drogo. And Drogo in turn repays her with kindness and pride from her doings, unlike Viserys, who only threatened and hurt her.

By finding a new family in Dorthaki Khalaasar and being respected and loved Dany finds herself detached from her obsessive brother. When Viserys comes to the feast, threats her like she’s his property again and threatens her child she does not hesitate. Knowing what will happen, she translates Viserys’ words to Khal Drogo. Horrible death of a “man who used to be her brother” does not move her. Dany is finally free.

Chapter 36, Daenerys
Summary
The Khalasar reaches sacred city of Vaes Dothrak. There will be a ceremony related to Dany’s pregnancy, it’s expected that there will be a prophecy for Khal’s child. Daenerys speaks with Jorah Mormont about her brother’s plans to conquer Seven Kingdoms with 10 thousand Dorthaki warriors. Later Dany wants to make peace with her brother and sends one of her serving girls to invite Viserys to dine with her. The girl used to passing Khaleesi commands misspoke and summoned Viserys instead of inviting him. Dany’s brother is furious, they end up fighting again.

Quotes

“You are the one who forgets himself,” Dany said to him. “Didn’t you learn anything that day in the grass? Leave me now, before I summon my khas to drag you out. And pray that Khal Drogo does not hear of this, or he will cut open your belly and feed you your own entrails.”

Commentary

For the first time the subject of invading Seven Kingdoms is picked up as a real plan, not a crazy dream of the exiled king. Dany tries to find out if it’s at all possible to conquer the Westeros with the help of Dorthaki. Mormont presents a convincing projection of the future. Dany starts to hope for the first time that she may yet come back from the exile.

Viserys has a hard time accepting that his sister is treated with respect, that she’s in a position of power, while he’s mocked and laughed at. Dany on the other hand is growing bold. Being Khaleesi gives her the strength to stand up to her abusive brother. It warms my heart to see Viserys put in his place.

Chapter 23, Daenerys
Summary
Dany has a hard time transforming from a delicate girl into a Dorthaki rider, but the dragon eggs give her strength. She’s becoming bolder, she’s starting to act like a Khaleesi, the Dorthaki Queen. She humiliates Viserys when he tries to hurt her. She also starts to enjoy her life as a wife and with instructions from Doreah she’s able to surprise her husband. Soon she is with child.

Quotes

The whip made a sound like thunder. The coil took Viserys around the throat and yanked him backward. He went sprawling in the grass, stunned and choking. The Dothraki riders hooted at him as he struggled to free himself. The one with the whip, young Jhogo, rasped a question. Dany did not understand his words, but by then Irri was there, and Ser Jorah, and the rest of her khas. “Jhogo asks if you would have him dead, Khaleesi.”

Commentary

Amazing metamorphosis of the submissive and frightened Daenerys into the Dorthaki Khaleesi. Dany tastes the freedom her husband gave her, freedom from her brother. Viserys doesn’t understand that and is making first steps that will lead him to his untimely demise.

Chapter 11, Daenerys
Summary
The wedding continues. Dorthaki fight and have sex in from of the wedded couple. The gifts are brought out. Daenerys receives a swift mare from her husband, three serving girls from her brother and three dragon eggs from Illyrio. After the wedding Dany and Drogo ride out to consume their marriage.

Quotes

The sun was only a quarter of the way up the sky when she saw her first man die.

“What are they?” she asked, her voice hushed and full of wonder.
“Dragon’s eggs, from the Shadow Lands beyond Asshai,” said Magister Illyrio. “The eons have turned them to stone, yet still they burn bright with beauty.”

“Tell Khal Drogo that he has given me the wind.” The fat Pentoshi stroked his yellow beard as he repeated her words in Dothraki, and Dany saw her new husband smile for the first time.

Commentary

Dorthaki wedding is a cruel ceremony. Their culture is extremely alien to the girl, who knows only so called “civilized” world. Dorthaki kill without a blink and a shade of reason and mate in front of everyone without any shame. Dany is terrified. She doesn’t want to be sold to those savages, but she knows she doesn’t have the choice.

There seems to be a hint of happy ending towards the end of the chapter though. Dany’s first time is not as frightening as she expected. Drogo did not seem to be the animal she pictured him to be. Their love scene was almost gentle, felt right, as opposed to the scene with Jaime and Cersei. We begin to suspect that Dany’s wedding was blessing in disguise.