Re-reading Song of Ice and Fire

Chapter 42, Tyrion
Summary
Bronn and Tyrion make camp on their way from Vale of Arryn. They start a fire making it clear that they are not hiding from clansmen. As they wait, Tyrion tells the story how he got married to the girl named Tysha. The clansmen arrive and Tyrion manages to buy his way out by promising them weapons and armor that will help them conquer Vale of Arryn.

Quotes

“Make no mistake, dwarf. I fought for you, but I do not love you.”
“It was your blade I needed,” Tyrion said, “not your love.”

Bronn snorted. “You have a bold tongue, little man. One day someone is like to cut it out and make you eat it.”
“Everyone tells me that.” Tyrion glanced up at the sellsword. “Did I offend you? My pardons… but you are scum, Bronn, make no mistake.”

“(…) by morning I was in love.”
“You?” Bronn’s voice was amused.
“Absurd, isn’t it?” Tyrion began to whistle the song again. “I married her,” he finally admitted.
(…)
“And then the septon sobered and confessed all to my lord father.” Tyrion was surprised at how desolate it made him feel to say it, even after all these years. Perhaps he was just tired. “That was the end of my marriage.”

“The mothers go hungry, and steel fills more mouths than gold. What would you give us for your lives, Tyrion son of Tywin? Swords? Lances? Mail?”
“All that, and more, Gunthor son of Gurn,” Tyrion Lannister replied, smiling. “I will give you the Vale of Arryn.”

Commentary

Once again Imp confirms that he’s a devilishly clever man. Knowing full well that sneaking through the mountains is not likely to work he decides on a gamble. Instead of dodging his enemies he finds out what they want most and buys his way out by offering it to them.

It is not the meeting with clansmen that is key event of the chapter. Tyrion is showing a more human side of himself. So far he’s been mostly a cynical pig, focused on his own amusement. Even Bronn, who knows him only few days can’t believe that he could have fallen in love, yet it is so. Tyrion’s relationship with Tysha was incredibly strong. It was the only person in the whole world that he loved. He feels loyalty for his family, he has lust for women, but love, this is the feeling he felt only once and it was brutally taken from him. This chapter is the key to understanding who Tyrion Lannister really is.

On the side note, I love the conversations Tyrion has with Bronn. They are worth each other, one being a Lord, the other lowborn scum. Both smart, both speaking their mind without any regard for consequences and both incredibly selfish. I’m highly amused by the way they verbally slap each other.

Chapter 38, Tyrion
Summary
Tyrion is locked in the sky cell, starved and abused by the half-wit galoer Mord. After spending few days in a cold cell and with no food Tyrion decides to try get himself out of the imprisonment. He bribes the guard to bring a message to Lysa, that he’s ready to confess. When brought in front of the Arryn court he denies everything again and tricks Lysa into granting him trial by combat. Bronn steps up as his champion.

Quotes

“This is the Eyrie, and these are knights of the Vale you see around you, true men who loved Jon Arryn well. Every one of them would die for me.”
“Lady Arryn, should any harm come to me, my brother Jaime will be pleased to see that they do.”

“Name your champion, Imp… if you think you can find a man to die for you.”
“If it is all the same to you, I’d sooner find one to kill for me.” Tyrion looked over the long hall. No one moved. For a long moment he wondered if it had all been a colossal blunder.
Then there was a stirring in the rear of the chamber. “I’ll stand for the dwarf,” Bronn called out.

Commentary

Tyrion once again proves to be a clever beast, although as he admits himself, he should guard his tongue better. Lysa Arryn on the other hand proves that she’s a stubborn and blind woman. Tyrion knows full well that his only way to freedom is through a trick… and outside help. Interesting twist in the story, although not entirely unexpected.

Chapter 31, Tyrion
Summary
Catelyn and her escort lead Tyrion toward the Vale of Arryn. They are attacked by clansmen. Tyrion convinces Catelyn that she has to let him fight at her side if they are to survive. Catelyn agrees. Tyrion saves her life during the battle. He also claims that he’s innocent and that Littlefinger lied about the dagger.

Quotes

All his life Tyrion had prided himself on his cunning, the only gift the gods had seen fit to give him, and yet this seven-times-damned shewolf Catelyn Stark had outwitted him at every turn.

“As I was saying before we were so rudely interrupted,” Tyrion began, “there is a serious flaw in Littlefinger’s fable. Whatever you may believe of me, Lady Stark, I promise you this-1 never bet against my family.”

Commentary

It’s still not sure what role (if any) Tyrion had in attempton Bran’s life. His words at the end of the chapter seem to go in line with what Renly gave away during the Tourney, that Tyrion did not bet against his family.

Imp manages to survive the attack of clansmen and begins to build a relationship with his captors. Soon enough we’ll find out what good it’ll do him.

Chapter 21, Tyrion
Summary
Tyrion eats dinner with the Night’s Watch officers. Lord Commander Mormont asks Tyrion to bring the message to the King, Lord Tywin and his brother Jaime. Night’s Watch needs help. The winter is coming. Before leaving Tyrion goes to take a last look from the Wall. He meets Jon there, they exchange last words and part as friends.

Quotes

“I promise, the king will hear of your need,” Tyrion said gravely, “and I will speak to my father and my brother Jaime as well.” And he would. Tyrion Lannister was as good as his word. He left the rest unsaid; that King Robert would ignore him, Lord Tywin would ask if he had taken leave of his senses, and Jaime would only laugh.

Commentary

It’s interesting to see how most of chapters in Game of Thrones are designed to have two major beats. In this one they are Tyrion’s dinner with Lord Commander and last meeting with Jon. Tyrion is a message bearer for both. Mormont wants him to ask for help, explaining the grave need of Night’s Watch while Jon asks for a good word for Bran. Despite his appearance and sarcasm Tyrion is able to befriend both Lord Commander and the bastard.

Chapter 13, Tyrion
Summary
The party led by Benjen Stark heads towards the Wall. Tyrion reads the book on the history of Seven Kingdoms and Targaryen conquest. Jon starts a conversation with Tyrion when they stop for the night. Tyrion is brutally honest with the kid and although it hurts him Jon starts to appreciate his way of thinking.

Quotes

No doubt the boy had made the mistake of thinking that the Night’s Watch was made up of men like his uncle. If so, Yoren and his companions were a rude awakening. Tyrion felt sorry for the boy.

Targaryen army shivered and shattered and began to run. For a few moments, the chroniclers wrote, the conquest was at an end… but only for those few moments, before Aegon Targaryen and his sisters joined the battle.
It was the only time that Vhaghar, Meraxes, and Balerion were all unleashed at once. The singers called it the Field of Fire.

Commentary

The most interesting part of this chapter for me is not the story of Jon and Tyrion, but the content of the book Imp reads. The history of Seven Kingdoms is unraveled, the story of Targaryen conquest, the dragon riders conquest.

As for Jon, we start to see that he’s forced to grow up and face the world as it is, not an idealized version he grew up in. Night’s Watch is not an elite guard protecting the realm of men. He starts to understand that it’s an exile where the rejects of humanity are sent to serve the remainder of their lives. The cruel reality hits him and Tyrion only reinforces the message. Initially Jon is angry with him, but then he starts to appreciate it.